North Yuba projects may close trails

The Tahoe National Forest said on June 1 that wildfire risk-reduction work in the North Yuba River watershed could limit access to roads, trails and recreation sites near Camptonville, Downieville and surrounding communities this field season. The work is being carried out through the North Yuba Forest Partnership, a nine-organization collaboration that includes the U.S. Forest Service and Yuba Water Agency. Forest officials said contractors may restrict access for public safety while crews use heavy equipment, haul trucks and tree-falling operations in active project areas. The agency also told visitors to expect more log-truck traffic on designated haul routes. ### Which places could see access restrictions this summer? The Tahoe National Forest said access may be restricted on Forest Service roads, trails and lands within the project area near Camptonville, Downieville and nearby communities. The agency said the limits are tied to active implementation work and could affect popular recreation locations on national forest land. Forest officials urged the public to avoid active treatment areas while equipment is operating. (fs.usda.gov) The North Yuba River watershed planning area runs from New Bullards Bar Reservoir to the Sierra Crest along Highway 49 and covers about 275,000 acres, according to the Forest Service project summary. Yuba Water Agency says the broader partnership is working across that same 275,000-acre watershed on forest restoration intended to reduce wildfire risk and improve watershed health. (fs.usda.gov) ### What kind of work are crews doing? The Forest Service said contractors will carry out mechanical vegetation management that includes heavy equipment, haul trucks, tree-falling, mastication and piling. Officials said that activity may occur seven days a week at any time in active areas, depending on weather. (fs.usda.gov) Yuba Water Agency says the partnership’s restoration strategy relies on ecologically based thinning and prescribed fire, with priority given to at-risk communities, evacuation routes and areas that could help stop wildfire spread. The Forest Service project summary also lists fuel treatments, road maintenance, road improvements and watershed work among the project activities. (fs.usda.gov) ### Which named project areas are already identified? Downieville is one of the largest named treatment areas in the June 1 release, with 3,350 acres east of downtown Downieville and north of Highway 49 slated for work. The Forest Service said hand falling there will begin in August. The Downieville Ridgetop Fuel Break would cover about 460 acres north of downtown, with heavy equipment moving along Lavezzola and Saddleback roads. (yubawater.org) The agency also listed the Eureka project at about 1,300 acres northwest of Downieville, the Gauntlet project at about 1,373 acres northeast of Alleghany and adjacent to Forest City, the Graveyard project at about 2,032 acres along Henness Pass Road east of Camptonville, the Greene Acres project at about 1,200 acres south of Bassetts, and New Bullards work on about 76 acres west of Highway 49 in the Camptonville area. (fs.usda.gov) ### Are any specific trails named for closure? The Forest Service said portions of the Truckee Ditch, Sandusky and Mexican Mine trails in the Gauntlet project area will close. The release says visitors should also expect heavy equipment and log trucks on Ridge Road and Henness Pass Road in that area. The agency said Greene Acres is an exception among the named sites because Forest Service lands, roads and trails there will not be closed during implementation. (fs.usda.gov) For Eureka, the Forest Service said there are no road closures, though operations may affect travel on Forest Service roads 25-23 and 25. ### Who is behind the North Yuba work? (fs.usda.gov) Yuba Water Agency says the North Yuba Forest Partnership includes nine organizations: Yuba Water, the U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, South Yuba River Citizens League, Camptonville Community Partnership, Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe, National Forest Foundation, Sierra County and Blue Forest. The group says it is carrying out forest restoration on an “unprecedented scale” in the watershed. (fs.usda.gov) The Forest Service project summary says the North Yuba Landscape Resilience Project covers about 210,000 acres of National Forest land within the larger watershed. The stated goals include improving forest health, protecting water supplies and reducing the risk of high-severity wildfire. ### Where should visitors check before heading out? The June 1 Forest Service release said the public should use the agency’s posted closure information and haul-route map before visiting affected areas. (yubawater.org) The agency said implementation started in late May and, in several named areas, will continue through the end of 2026 as weather permits. (fs.usda.gov 1) (fs.usda.gov 2)