The Nevada County office of Emergency Services (OES) invites the public to attend the Woodpecker Ravine Phase 2 Town Hall. Phase 2 of the Woodpecker Ravine Shaded Fuel Break Project will enhance the efforts of Phase 1 by treating up to 726 acres of private land along critical evacuation routes and strategic ridges.
The project aims to improve safety for residents and first responders and strengthen firefighter’s ability to protect homes by reducing potential wildfire spread and intensity.
The Town Hall will take place on October 29 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Chicago Park Elementary School, 15725 Mt Olive Rd, Grass Valley. Residents can expect an agenda comprised of Q & A, Project Overview, Community Support, and Fire Experts.
“Phase 2 of the Woodpecker Ravine Project is a critical step in protecting our community’s most at-risk areas,” said Alex Keeble-Toll, Director of Emergency Services. “It’s the result of strategic planning, collaboration across agencies, and residents who share the goal of reducing wildfire risk.”
Sandwiched between Highways 49 and 174 and bounded at the top and bottom by Empire Mine State Historic Park and Mount Olive Road respectively, Woodpecker Ravine is in the high and very high fire hazard severity zones just southeast of Grass Valley.
The steep topography and dense vegetation of Woodpecker Ravine make it susceptible to dangerous wildfire spread and intensity. The goal is to create conditions that limit potential wildfire spread by removing surface and ladder fuel along critical evacuation routes and strategic ridges.
The Woodpecker Ravine Shaded Fuel Break Project was identified as a priority in the CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit (NEU) Strategic Plan, the Nevada County Evacuation Study, and the Nevada County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, all part of the County’s Roadmap to Resilience. The project is funded by a $3,914,536 grant from CAL FIRE.
Woodpecker Ravine Residents
If you are a landowner within the project treatment area you can expect to receive an introductory letter and Right-of-Entry (ROE) form in the mail. This ROE will grant permission for the team of environmental consultants who will be leading the botanical, wildlife, and cultural surveys necessary for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance as well as the registered professional forester who will be designing the treatment prescription for hazardous fuel reduction to enter your property and conduct the necessary activities. After the treatment prescription for your property is complete, you will be provided with this information and asked to sign-off and grant permission for vegetation abatement vendors to conduct the on the ground work.
For more project information and to see if you’re located in the treatment area visit the Woodpecker Ravine webpage: ReadyNevadaCounty.org/WoodpeckerRavine