Sign inStarta project

Categorical exclusion · example

Russell Valley Fuels Reduction

Fuels reduction and forest health treatments on up to 3,000 acres near Russell Valley and Dry Creek, using thinning, mastication, hand work and prescribed burning to lower high-severity wildfire risk in the wildland urban interface.2

Facts from USDA Forest Service public records, each linked by number to its source; checked November 13, 2026. Section notes by ePlan.

At a glance

Where
Russell Valley and Dry Creek area northeast of Truckee, Truckee Ranger District, Nevada and Sierra Counties, California, along the Highway 89 corridor1
Size
Up to 3,000 acres, including thinning to a target density on up to 2,700 acres2
Lead agency
USDA Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, Truckee Ranger District1
Review
Categorical exclusion, documented in a decision memo1
Legal citation
Categorical exclusion 32.3 (9), with special authority HFRA Title VI wildfire resilience CE1
Status
Completed; decision signed April 24, 20251

Timeline

  1. Scoping Start1
  2. Decision signed1
  3. Implementation (estimated)1

Documents USDA Forest Service published

What the documents say

Final Russell Valley DM

PURPOSE AND NEED
Lists seven needs, including reducing surface and ladder fuels, protecting Russell Valley, improving stand resilience, protecting watersheds, and retaining Northern goshawk habitat.2
DECISION
Approves treatments on up to 3,000 acres, with thinning to 40-80 square feet basal area on up to 2,700 acres, openings of 0.25-3.0 acres, and retention of trees 30 inches DBH and larger.2
Prescribed Burning
Pile, jackpot, broadcast and underburning would be applied across the whole 3,000-acre area under an approved burn plan.2
Hazard Tree Removal
Imminent hazard trees along water lines, landings and roads would be felled or removed, generally within 1.5 times tree height of the target, 2 times on steeper slopes.2
Road Management
Temporary roads and unclassified roads give short-term access, then all temporary roads are decommissioned, with subsoiling, recontouring and stream crossing restoration.2
Implementation Methods
Describes mastication, hand thinning with piling or chipping (chips no deeper than 4 inches), and mechanical removal with ground-based equipment.2

Start one like it.

A project like Russell Valley Fuels Reduction? Describe yours and ePlan drafts the CE documentation. Which Forest Service CE fits your project?

More examples

Forest Service CE finder · Tahoe National Forest projects · All Forest Service projects

Sources

  1. Russell Valley Fuels Reduction: Forest Service project pagefs.usda.gov
  2. Final Russell Valley DMusfs-public.app.box.com