About the Project
The Deer Creek Canyon Shaded Fuel Break will remove and reduce fuels on 1600 acres in Deer Creek canyon to make our community safer from wildfire.
A shaded fuel break involves thinning vegetation, especially ladder fuels, to slow down the speed and intensity of a wildfire. It gives firefighters a better place to fight the fire. Many trees and their shade will be retained. It is not a bare earth “fire break”.
It will improve wildfire safety for Deer Creek Canyon, Nevada City, and Grass Valley. The more neighbors who participate, the safer our overall community will be. Retired Cal Fire Battalion Chief Matt Wallen has stated it is the single most effective intervention for protecting our area from wildfire.
Landowner participation is voluntary. Participating landowners are required to match 10% of the implementation cost for their property, which they can meet in three ways: by working on the property themselves (valued at ~$38/hour), through their expenses for maintaining it, or cash. Owners must agree to maintain the treated property for 10 years.
In the project’s Planning phase, a licensed forester will work with each owner to develop a treatment plan specific to their property. This phase, started September 1, 2024, will last approximately 1 year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) will review the planning materials for approximately 12 to 15 months. Then, the implementation phase will run for about two years.
This project is being developed and managed by the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County. Six Firewise communities and Nevada City Fire Safety Advisory Committee support the project. Deer Creek Canyon Shaded Fuel Break is part of the Fire Safe Council’s regional plan for fuels management projects in our area. The next project is the Deer Creek Ponderosa Connection along Newtown Rd. (This project is labeled on the map as Deer Creek Cal Fire East and Deer Creek Cal Fire West.) This project is not yet funded.
A shaded fuel break involves thinning vegetation, especially ladder fuels, to slow down the speed and intensity of a wildfire. It gives firefighters a better place to fight the fire. Many trees and their shade will be retained. It is not a bare earth “fire break”.
It will improve wildfire safety for Deer Creek Canyon, Nevada City, and Grass Valley. The more neighbors who participate, the safer our overall community will be. Retired Cal Fire Battalion Chief Matt Wallen has stated it is the single most effective intervention for protecting our area from wildfire.
Landowner participation is voluntary. Participating landowners are required to match 10% of the implementation cost for their property, which they can meet in three ways: by working on the property themselves (valued at ~$38/hour), through their expenses for maintaining it, or cash. Owners must agree to maintain the treated property for 10 years.
In the project’s Planning phase, a licensed forester will work with each owner to develop a treatment plan specific to their property. This phase, started September 1, 2024, will last approximately 1 year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) will review the planning materials for approximately 12 to 15 months. Then, the implementation phase will run for about two years.
This project is being developed and managed by the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County. Six Firewise communities and Nevada City Fire Safety Advisory Committee support the project. Deer Creek Canyon Shaded Fuel Break is part of the Fire Safe Council’s regional plan for fuels management projects in our area. The next project is the Deer Creek Ponderosa Connection along Newtown Rd. (This project is labeled on the map as Deer Creek Cal Fire East and Deer Creek Cal Fire West.) This project is not yet funded.