In an effort to aid in the recovery and restoration of areas affected by the 2021 Dixie Fire, the Lassen National Forest has initiated a 30-day scoping period, running through October 18, for the Dixie Fire Community Protection and Swain Mountain Experimental Forest Vegetation Management Project. This project aims to enhance postfire recovery and safeguard communities within the wildland urban interface, extended community protection zones, and the Swain Mountain Experimental Forest.
The project, jointly proposed by the Pacific Southwest Research Station and the Lassen National Forest, encompasses a range of vegetation and fuel treatments. These measures are designed to promote desired stand structures, diminish fuel loads, bolster the resilience of surviving forested areas, and facilitate natural regeneration and reforestation. The ultimate goal is to mitigate wildfire threats to communities, critical infrastructure, and curb future extreme fire behaviors.
Spanning approximately 48,390 acres across Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama counties, the project area encompasses several community areas. Public input plays a crucial role in the planning process, and a virtual meeting is scheduled for September 28, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with in-person attendance also an option. Additional information and project details can be found on the forest service website.
Comments on the project can be submitted electronically to [email protected] or via written correspondence to Deb Bumpus, Forest Supervisor, at 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130. Hand-delivered comments can be submitted at the Lassen National Forest Supervisors Office during regular business hours. For inquiries about the project, please contact Frank Heide, Project Leader, at (530) 258-7129 or [email protected] with the subject line “Dixie Fire Community Protection.”
