HomeMy Public PortalAboutAB 23-054 Granite Goose Project PresentationMcCALL CITY COUNCIL 216 East Park Street
AGENDA BILL McCall, Idaho 83638
Number AB 23-054
Meeting Date March 9, 2023
AGENDA ITEM INFORMATION
SUBJECT:
Presentation by Payette National Forest on the Granite Goose Landscape Restoration Project
Department Approvals
Initials
Originator
or
Supporter
Mayor / Council
City Manager
Originator
Clerk
Treasurer
Community Development
Police Department
Public Works
Golf Course
COST IMPACT:
n/a
Parks and Recreation
FUNDING SOURCE:
Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Airport
Library
TIMELINE:
Scoping period ends March 10
Information Systems
Grant Coordinator
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
As directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Forest Service is instituting the Wildfire Crisis Strategy across the county and areas of the Boise and Payette National Forests
have been identified as an Initial Investment Landscape. The resulting Southwest Idaho Landscape Project has 15 identified priority firesheds within the project’s footprint, with 8
of those further identified as high priority firesheds for implementation of fuels reduction work. Of the 1.7 million acre footprint, 800,000 acres are state and private lands where
the Forest Service does not have jurisdiction to conduct fuels reduction work. For overall success, state and local governments, and private landowners must take action as well to
protect communities by reducing the risk of wildfire through the Fire Adapted Communities program. The Granite Goose Landscape Restoration Project just west and northwest of McCall
is the first project under the Wildfire Crisis Strategy the Payette National Forest is undertaking from inception through to implementation to address hazardous fuels within this area
(other fuels reduction work such as in Bear Basin, on Brundage Mountain and in Ecks Flat have been conducted recently before the Wildfire Crisis Strategy). The Granite Goose Landscape
Restoration Project is in the early stages of the NEPA with the initial Scoping Period ending on March 10 – a well-attended public meeting was held on Feb 22 to offer an opportunity
to review the project. The four primary tools the Payette will be using to reduce fuel loading are commercial thinning, non-commercial thinning, prescribed fire, and reforestation.
Other work to address recreation and watershed restoration work will be a part of the project. A story map for the Southwest Idaho Landscape Project has additional information: Southwest
Idaho Landscape Project (arcgis.com) A story map for the Granite Goose Project will be produced in the future.
Brian Harris and Jennifer Blake of Payette National Forest will present and answer questions.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
None - Information only
RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION
MEETING DATE
ACTION