Eldorado National Forest

Projects & Plans

Freds Reforestation Project

Project Proposal:

The project area for this analysis is the approximately 4,320 acre portion of the Freds Fire that is within the Placerville and Pacific Ranger District administrative boundaries of the ENF, in El Dorado County, California.

The Forest Service, Eldorado National Forest, Placerville and Pacific Ranger Districts, have prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Freds Fire Reforestation Project which proposes to plant trees, control shrubs and other competing vegetation to ensure conifer survival and growth, control or eliminate invasive plants, and reduce short term fuels loading in the area burned in the Freds Fire on near the town of Kyburz, California.

The purpose and need for this project is to further the restoration of the area impacted by the Freds Fire of 2004. This fire resulted in adverse effects to forest resources such as soil, riparian areas, and wildlife habitat, and caused extensive tree mortality. Removal of most of the fire-killed trees occurred in 2005. Some live and dead trees remain, distributed across the landscape as described in the Freds Fire Restoration FEIS. Without additional treatment to restore the fire area, additional impacts are likely over the short and long term.

Project Location:

The project area for this analysis is the approximately 4,600 acre portion of the 7,700 acre Freds Fire that is located on the Placerville and Pacific Ranger Districts of the Eldorado National Forest in El Dorado County, California. The project area includes portions of the South Fork Silver Creek - Junction Reservoir, South Fork Silver Creek - Ice House Reservoir, South Fork American River - Kyburz, and South Fork American River - Fry Creek watersheds.

Project Documents:

Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) (pdf):

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Background:

The Beginning:
The Freds Fire was reported in the late afternoon of October 13, 2004, on the north side of Highway 50 approximately 1½ miles east of the communities of Silver Fork and Kyburz, in El Dorado County.

After ignition, the fire quickly spread across extremely steep slopes, burning through timber and heavy fuels. The fire burned rapidly in a westerly direction, parallel to Highway 50, driven by strong east winds. Highway 50 was closed immediately, the communities of Silver Fork and Kyburz were evacuated, and suppression efforts focused on protecting the towns and their infrastructure. The fire burned approximately 7,560 acres on the Eldorado National Forest (ENF) and on private timberlands.

The fire burned with varying intensity. Many areas of the fire burned at high and moderate intensity, killing 75%-100% of the trees and burning the duff and litter that protects the soil. In these areas, the fire resulted in high rates of soil erosion, sedimentation to streams, destruction of wildlife habitat for sensitive species, and loss of old forest.

Subsequent Activities:
Subsequent to the fire, the ENF prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS), the Freds Fire Restoration FEIS and Record of Decision (ROD), signed August 1, 2005, to address long-term fuel loading, dead tree removal, road repair and public safety (USDA 005a). Dead and dying trees were removed from the project area during the summer and fall of 2005.

Three decision memos were prepared to replant burned Cleveland Fire plantations and to begin initial planting on a portion of the harvested areas. Initial tree planting has occurred on about 1,870 acres, however, the seedlings have not established. Planted trees encountered many barriers to establishment early in their life and cannot be considered established upon planting. Seedling mortality is high, the result of lack of adequate moisture, with third year seedling survival at about 40 percent, and declining.

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