November 2, 2021 - SONORA, Calif. — The Stanislaus National Forest provides the following information about planned prescribed underburns on the forest.

Prescribed Fire Name / Ranger District: Jawbone Understory Burn, Groveland Ranger District 

General and Specific Location: This specific project is located entirely within Groveland Ranger District Boundary, Tuolumne County in the following legal locations: Township 1 North, Range 17 East, sections 19, 24, 25 & 30. Smoke may be visible from Highway 120, with some down canyon drift smoke visible in the evening and early morning.  

Projected Duration: Ignition of the prescribed burn is expected to begin November of 2021, and is  contingent on weather, fuel moisture, and air quality. Ignitions could continue up to 5 days or as conditions allow. All burning is monitored and conducted in accordance with state and county air quality guidelines and closely coordinated with local county air quality control districts.  

Planned Size of Prescribed Burn: Total of up to 565 acres to be treated with low-intensity fire, with planned ignition on approximately up to 250 acres daily. Size of burn may vary with weather and fuel moisture conditions, as well as permissible air quality burn days.

Type of Prescribed Burn: Broadcast underburn

Burn Project Objectives: Improve forest health and vigor of conifer forests, including planations.  Reduce fire hazard from timber sale created activity fuels and naturally occurring accumulations.  Use prescribed fire to mimic natural processes and maintain ecosystems.  Increase vegetative mosaic.  Continue eraducation of Taeniatherum caput-medusae (Medusahead).  Conduct fire management actions in a cost effective and efficient manner.

Public Benefits: Prescribed burning is an effective, cost-efficient method of reducing flammable forest fuels, improving firefighting capabilities, and reducing the impacts of large uncontrolled damaging wildland fires.

Resource Benefits: Controlled or "prescribed", low-intensity fires enhance wildlife habitat, protect and maintain water quality and soil productivity, improve forest ecosystem health, and reduce the threat of uncontrolled conflagrations.  The Sierra Nevadas are a fire-dependent ecosystem, where fire is part of natureal forest processes.

Public Advisory:  This project is a planned prescribed fire (controlled burn). Smoke may be visible from Hwy 120, Yosemite National Park, Hwy 108, Tuolumne City, with some down canyon drift smoke visible in the evening and early morning mainly in the Tuolumne River and Clavey River drainages. This project is a planned prescribed fire. Please do not report as a wildland fire. Please do not report as a wildland fire. Thank you for your cooperation!

STF plans prescribed burning Bear Mountain Underburn on Groveland Ranger District resource and public benefit

November 2, 2021 - SONORA, Calif. — The Stanislaus National Forest provides the following information about planned prescribed underburns on the forest.

Prescribed Fire Name / Ranger District: Bear Mountain Underburn, Groveland Ranger District 

General and Specific Location: Located approximately 22 miles east of Groveland, along Forest Road 1S03, in the vicinity of Ackerson and Bear Mountain, Township 1S, Range 19E.  

Projected Duration: Ignition of the prescribed burn is expected to begin November and continue for 4 to 6 days.  Burning is  contingent on weather, fuel moisture, and air quality. Ignitions could continue up to 5 days or as conditions allow. All burning is monitored and conducted in accordance with state and county air quality guidelines and closely coordinated with local county air quality control districts.  

Planned Size of Prescribed Burn: Total of up to 334 acres could be treated with low-intensity fire, with planned ignition on approximately up to 150 acres or more daily.  Size of burn may vary with weather and fuel moisture conditions, as well as permissible air quality burn days.

Type of Prescribed Burn: Broadcast underburn of low intensity.

Burn Project Objectives: Reduce the buildup of flammable forest fuels. Both ground fuels and ladder fuels; reduce the threat of uncontrolled, large and damaging fires:

• Improve protection of life and property in the communities of Evergreen, Camp Mather, Peach Growers tract, and Private adjacent land;
• Enhance and protect wildlife habitat and improve deer browse;
• Protect the Tuolumne River watershed, campgrounds and forest and private infrastructure;
• Promote health and resiliency in mixed conifer forest and reduce susceptibility to future insect and disease occurrences and drought.

Public Benefits: Prescribed burning is an effective, cost-efficient method of reducing flammable forest fuels, improving firefighting capabilities, and reducing the impacts of large uncontrolled damaging wildland fires.

Resource Benefits: Controlled or "prescribed", low-intensity fires enhance wildlife habitat, protect and maintain water quality and soil productivity, improve forest ecosystem health, and reduce the threat of uncontrolled conflagrations.  The Sierra Nevada is a fire-dependent ecosystem, where fire is part of natural forest processes.

Public Advisory:  Smoke maybe be visible from Hwy. 120 and Evergreen Road, with some down canyon drift smoke visible in the evening and early morning mainly in the South Fork of the Tuolumne River drainage. This project is a planned prescribed fire. Please do not report as a wildland fire.

Thank you for your cooperation!
Source: Stanislaus National Forest