February 18, 2024 - SONORA, Calif.– The Stanislaus National Forest is seeking your comments on the draft environmental impact statement for the 
Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape (SERAL) 2.0 project. This project extends the work currently underway with the original SERAL project and will expand the boundary along California Highway 108.
The SERAL 2.0 project is designed to increase landscape resilience to disturbances such as wildfire, provide economic opportunities to local communities, reduce the spread of non-native vegetation, and reduce safety hazards across public lands. To meet these objectives, a series of management actions will be used, including the use of prescribed fire, hand thinning, mastication, mechanical forest thinning, non-native invasive weed control, and limited salvage operations.
Over the past few decades, the lands the public relies on for clean water, recreation opportunities, habitat, natural resources, clean air and much more have been increasingly impacted by insects, disease, drought, and wildland fire, exacerbated by climate change. These impacts have altered ecosystem function and resiliency. Through Forest Service research partners and a collaborative network, we have enhanced shared understanding of the type and scale of treatments necessary to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildland fire, insects, disease, and drought mortality.
“SERAL 2.0 builds upon the tremendous collaborative planning and implementation of the first SERAL decisions, incorporating lessons learned and truly bringing us to a landscape scale. We have located and designed the proposed treatments to proactively reduce the wildfire risk to various communities, iconic recreation sites and critical infrastructure as well as improving habitat for myriad aquatic and terrestrial species,” said Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken. “We value your input and have incorporated updates to the DEIS in response to the feedback we received during the scoping period.”
Like the first SERAL project, the SERAL 2.0 project area is located within the 304,841-acre USDA Forest Service Wildfire Crisis Strategy Stanislaus Landscape. The SERAL 2.0 project area spans approximately 162,000-acres and includes 118,282-acres of National Forest System lands with portions on the Calaveras, Groveland, Mi-Wok, and Summit Ranger Districts. The project area is bordered by the Clavey River to the east and the Tuolumne River to the south.
To view the DEIS and supporting documents visit the project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63557. To submit comments, visit the project website and click the “Comment/Object on Project” link located under “Get Connected”. Comments will be accepted for 45-days and must be received by 9 p.m. PT, Monday, April 1, 2024.
Written comments may also be submitted via mail to Stanislaus National Forest, Attn: SERAL 2.0, 19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, CA 95370.
Any questions or concerns should be directed to Forest Public Affairs Officer, Benjamin Cossel: benjamin.cossel@usda.gov or 209.288.6261.
Source: Stanislaus National Forest
