SCH Number 2019110389

Project Info

Title

Wildland Vegetative Fuel Management Plan

Description

The Wildland Vegetative Fuel Management Plan (WVFMP) is proposed by UC Berkeley to treat vegetation that could become fire fuel within the Plan Area. The WVFMP includes implementation of four vegetation treatment types across the Hill Campus: 1) evacuation support treatments, 2) temporary refuge areas, 3) fuel break treatments, and 4) fire hazard reduction treatments. Five different vegetation treatment activities would be used to implement the four vegetation treatment types: 1) manual treatment, 2) mechanical treatment, 3) prescribed broadcast burning, 4) managed herbivory (livestock grazing), and 5) targeted ground application of herbicides. UC Berkeley would implement vegetation treatment activities on an average of 200 acres per year within the Plan Area. Up to 600 acres of the 800-acre Plan Area would be treated under the WVFMP because 200 acres are inaccessible (i.e., in Hamilton Gulch) or are not expected to carry fire, due to a lack of vegetative fuel. UC Berkeley is also proposing specific vegetation treatment projects, which comprise two fuel break projects, four temporary refuge areas, and three fire hazard reduction projects in the Plan Area. Fuel breaks (FB) are proposed on Claremont Ridge (the East-West FB) and between the Hill Campus and the Hearst Gate to LBNL (the Hearst Gate FB). The temporary refuge areas (TRAs 1 through 4) are proposed adjacent to Claremont Avenue, in two areas along Jordan Fire Trail, and adjacent to Centennial Drive in the Lawrence Hall of Science parking area. The fire hazard reduction (FHR) projects comprise vegetation treatments in Strawberry Canyon (Strawberry FHR Project), Claremont Canyon (Claremont FHR Project), and on areas along Frowning Ridge (Frowning FHR Project). These nine specific projects are collectively referred to as the “Identified Treatment Projects.” The four treatment types and five treatment activities are reviewed for use throughout the Plan Area at a programmatic level, and the nine Identified Treatment Projects are studied at a project level of detail in the EIR. The near-term implementation of the Identified Treatment Projects along with the longer-term implementation of treatment activities studied at a program level, together comprise the proposed “project,” as defined in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.

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