RES 2026023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc. CalVTP Project-Specific Analysis and Addendum Augustin Bernal Community Park Fuel Reduction November 2025 2-7 2.2.6. Biomass Disposal The goal of biomass disposal is to reduce ignitable material and associated air quality impacts from wildfire, reduce brood material for harmful insects and disease, and enhance aesthetics. By reducing the available fuel in the shaded fuel break, the fuel continuity is disrupted, which slows down the spread of wildfires and decreases potential fire intensity. Methods for managing biomass include natural decomposition (e.g., chip and broadcast, lop and scatter), hauling off-site, and pile burning. To mitigate brood stratum opportunities for beetles, downed logs would not be left on site, in accordance with California Forest Practice Rules (CAL FIRE 2019) and BMPs. Whenever feasible, natural decomposition of biomass would be preferred because: (1) forestry mulch aids in mitigating erosion and excessive soil disturbance; (2) keeping material on-site prevents the spread of disease and pathogens to other sites, with Sudden Oak Death (SOD; Phytophthora ramorum) being of particular concern in our region; and (3) GHG emissions are reduced by avoiding the transportation of material off-site to green waste facilities. For all these reasons, the most climate-friendly option is to leave woody biomass on-site to decompose naturally. 2.2.6.1. Natural Decomposition Cut vegetation may be retained on-site to decompose naturally via lopping and scattering or chipping and broadcasting across the landscape. Lopping plants involves cutting a plant low to the ground and distributing the cut material. In some cases, a road-based chipper or an all-terrain vehicle and tracked towable chipper would be used to process cut vegetative materials. The vegetative material would be fed through the chipper and broadcast widely into treatment areas. Biomass would be chipped to 3 inches or smaller in size and spread up to 4 inches deep. Cut vegetation and chips would not be placed below the ordinary high water mark of aquatic features, within wetlands or riparian areas, or on top of burrows or rock piles. Understory debris chipped and scattered on-site would follow BMPs for reducing the spread of pests, disease, noxious weeds, and invasive species (see Section 2.5). 2.2.6.2. Hauling Off-Site Vegetation moved off-site would be hauled to an appropriate biomass-processing facility. Transported invasive plant materials would be stored in a closed container to prevent spreading during transport. 2.2.6.3. Pile Burning Hand-cut material would be piled as “feeder piles,” with the cut stems facing in one direction in a manner to minimize any overstory scorch when the piles are restacked and burned. Most of the piles would be built in open areas of the forest floor or on the roadside. Suitable areas for pile burning are open areas