Six Rivers Seeks Comment on Post-August Complex Restoration

Press release from Six Rivers National Forest:

The Six Rivers National Forest’s Mad River Ranger District is kicking off public scoping for the Mad River August Complex Restoration Project (August Complex Restoration Project), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). As part of the project NEPA requirements, the Forest Service is initiating a 30-day scoping period from June 25 through July 26, 2021. During the scoping period, the Forest Service will host two public engagement meetings where the public can learn more about the project and ask questions:

• Virtual Public Meeting: Tuesday, June 29, from 3 to 4 p.m. via Zoom. To attend, register no later than Monday, June 28, by sending an email to [email protected]. Please include “Virtual Public Meeting Registration” in the subject line. You will receive a reply prior to the meeting time with instructions on how to attend.
• In-Person Public Meeting: Thursday, July 8 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Ruth Lake Community Service District Hall, 591 Van Duzen Road, in Mad River. Those in attendance will be asked to follow all COVID-19 protocols in effect at the time of the meeting, including masking and social distancing guidelines.

Both meetings will be identical in content and format.

The focus of the proposed 12,386-acre August Complex Restoration Project is post-fire fuels management; safety; native plant, oak and wildlife habitat restoration; economic recovery of timber salvage; and the installation of a new radio repeater and antenna monopole on Grizzly Peak. The project would treat high fire-severity areas via 4,505 acres of ground-based commercial salvage timber harvest and fuels reduction, followed by 2,500 acres of reforestation, 1,029 acres of oak and native plant restoration, and hazard tree felling near work areas, campgrounds, trailheads and motorized trails. The project would yield commercial outputs, such as sawlogs, as well as non-commercial products, such as personal-use firewood.

According to District Ranger Kristen Lark, “Since last November when the August Complex was finally contained, we’ve worked closely with our local partners on emergency recovery work, as well as on planning and implementing the Three Forks Fire Salvage Project, and we know there is much more repair and restoration work that needs to happen.” She added, “As we continue planning the much larger August Complex Restoration Project, we hope to hear from the public and our partners so we can develop a plan that best meets the needs of our communities and addresses post-fire conditions.” Since containment of the August Complex, the Forest Service has also addressed active contract obligations and coordinated with the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) to remove ash, debris and contaminated soils generated by the fire.

The August Complex started in August 2020 when lightning ignited numerous fires south and southeast of the Ruth and Three Forks communities. Wind carried embers from these fires igniting new fires near Berry Creek, Kettenpom and Hettenshaw valleys, and populated areas near Ruth, Long Ridge, Haman Ridge and Hoaglin Valley in Trinity County, California. In fighting to control what is now referred to as one of the largest 2020 fires on record—the August Complex—fire-suppression personnel encountered extremely dangerous weather conditions, especially unusual wind events that rapidly carried the fire great distances.

For more information, contact Kristen Lark at (707) 382-8427 or [email protected] with a subject line of August Complex Restoration Project or visit www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60286.

Scoping comments, due July 26, 2021, can be sent in one of three ways:

1. Emailed to Carol Spinos at [email protected];
2. Mailed (must be postmarked July 26 or earlier) or hand delivered between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to the Mad River Ranger District, 741 State Highway 36, Bridgeville, CA 95526; or
3. Faxed to (707) 574-6273.