Roadside Fuels Reduction and Biomass Planning
Road corridors through forested mountain communities can present complex wildfire mitigation challenges. Along US 395 and SR 203 in the Inyo National Forest, dense forest conditions, recreational use, utility infrastructure, steep terrain, and nearby wildland-urban interface areas all influenced how vegetation treatments could be safely planned and implemented.
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) sought to reduce wildfire risk along these heavily traveled corridors while accounting for environmental resources, operational constraints, and the management of woody material generated by treatment activities. The project covered approximately 260 acres, including approximately 190 forested acres where treatment operations were anticipated. To support these efforts, Trihydro provided Registered Professional Forester (RPF)-led timber marking, forest data collection, GIS analysis, and biomass assessment and management planning.
Developing an Implementable Fuels Reduction Strategy
Trihydro’s team assessed and marked approximately 190 acres of roadside timber for future removal by Department of Transportation (DOT) contractors. The work included developing a field workplan, documenting tree and treatment-unit data in GIS, identifying potential landing and staging areas, and evaluating site-specific constraints that could affect implementation.
The treatment prescription focused on thinning live conifers to an average residual spacing of approximately 25 feet, or about 70 trees per acre. Vigorous trees with healthy crowns were prioritized for retention, while trees successfully attacked by bark beetles were identified for removal. Special attention was given to protecting five-needle pine species, including Pinus albicaulis and Pinus monticola, during treatment layout and field operations.
The project also required coordination around:
- Overhead high-voltage transmission lines
- Caltrans buildings and infrastructure
- Steep slopes
- Recreation and traffic
- Potential landing and staging locations
- Protected tree species
- Requirements for removing all above-ground biomass from the right-of-way
Biomass Assessment and Management Planning
Forest fuels reduction can generate substantial quantities of woody material, creating logistical and economic challenges if biomass management is not considered early in project planning. Trihydro developed a biomass assessment and management plan to help the U.S. Forest Service understand the expected volume and potential uses of material generated by the project. The final assessment estimated approximately:
- 3,320 trees requiring removal
- 1,837 green U.S. tons of above-ground biomass
- 1,451 MBF of merchantable volume
- 447 cords of material
The plan evaluated potential biomass outlets and management approaches, including sawmills, biomass cogeneration facilities, firewood processing, onsite chipping, air curtain burning, and potential use of wood chips for meadow restoration.
From Fuels Reduction Planning to Field Implementation
By integrating professional forestry, GIS, biomass planning, environmental considerations, and field logistics, Trihydro helped create a practical pathway from wildfire mitigation goals to implementable roadside treatments. The project gave decision-makers a clearer understanding of treatment volumes, biomass constraints, potential end uses, protected resources, and field conditions before harvest operations began.
