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NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-CA-C080-2026-0003-DNA
Project Name: Thompson Ridge Fuels Reduction Project

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Project Information

NEPA Number

DOI-BLM-CA-C080-2026-0003-DNA
Project Name

Thompson Ridge Fuels Reduction Project
Project Type

DNA
NEPA Status

In Progress - Public Review and Comment Period
Lead Office

Mother Lode Field Office
Last Updated

4/9/2026 5:00:00 PM

Project Description

The Thompson Ridge fuels reduction project would reduce fuels on up to 209 acres of BLM land. Hand crews and mechanical operators (track chippers, masticators) would remove brush and small diameter trees from the project area, with maximum DBH of conifers no greater than 11” dbh. The average spacing would be roughly 30 feet between boles and brush with some tighter spacing in clumps and “islands”. The preference is to remove hardwoods under 4” dbh, though spacing concerns will necessitate removing larger hardwoods.

Preliminary determination of no historic properties affected.

Project activities could include: 
•	Hand cutting/piling small diameter trees and brush for future pile burning; pruning and limbing of tree species to raise canopy base height to decrease ladder fuels. 
•	Mechanical cutting, skidding and piling of trees, brush, and activity generated or existing downed material.
•	Mechanical mastication of activity generated or existing surface fuels, brush, and small trees.
•	Chipping of vegetation, lopping and scattering, and removal of vegetation offsite. 
•	Use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles for the removal of noxious weeds including manual, mechanical and chemical control. 
•	Pile burning and/or understory burning to reduce residual fuel loading. 
•	Application of herbicides for maintenance of fuels reduction.
•	Targeted grazing, i.e., the use of livestock for intensively managed grazing in a targeted area to reduce or modify vegetation. May include temporary fencing. 

The construction of fire control lines may be needed. Fire control lines would be constructed by hand crews or with equipment, when appropriate. Control lines would be created by cutting vegetation and scraping the control line down to mineral soil. Control lines would be constructed to the minimum size and standard necessary to contain the prescribed fire and meet overall project objectives. 

Hazard Trees: A dying, standing tree that has been severely damaged by forces such as fire, wind, ice, insects, disease, or drought and that in the judgment of an experienced forester is likely to die within one to three years. Removal of hazard trees would be authorized.

What's New

None

Project Location

City	State/Territory	Zip Code	County(ies)
Sutter Creek	California	95685	Amador County

Application Information

Applicant

Amador Fire Safe Council
Program

Wildland Fire Management
Sub-Program

Fuels Management

Project Dates

Start Date

10/10/2025

Project Office Information

Lead Office

Mother Lode Field Office
Offices

Mother Lode FO

Contacts

Contact 1 Name

Beth Brenneman
Contact 1 Email

[email protected]
Contact 1 Phone

(916) 941-3138