Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
07/01/2024 to 09/30/2024
Sierra National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Report Contents (click to jump to a section) :
-  Projects Occurring Nationwide
-  R5 - Pacific Southwest Region, Sierra National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R5 - Pacific Southwest Region, Sierra National Forest,  Bass Lake Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R5 - Pacific Southwest Region, Sierra National Forest,  High Sierra Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions Across the National Forest System
EIS

           *UPDATED* 		- Land management planning  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 06/21/2024
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 12/2024  		Expected:01/2025
  		01/2025 Jennifer McRae
202-791-8488
SM.FS.NFSWONGA@usda.gov 
Description: Amend all land management plans for units of the National Forest System to include consistent direction to conserve and steward existing and recruit future old-growth forest conditions and to monitor their condition across planning areas of NFS.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65356
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. National Forests and Grasslands (128 units).
Locatable Mining Rule - 36 CFR 228, subpart A.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  On Hold  N/A  N/A Sarah Shoemaker
907-586-7886
sarahshoemaker@fs.fed.us 
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes revisions to its regulations at 36 CFR 228, Subpart A governing locatable minerals operations on National Forest System lands.A draft EIS & proposed rule should be available for review/comment in late 2020
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57214
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. These regulations apply to all NFS lands open to mineral entry under the US mining laws. More Information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/minerals/locatable-minerals/current-revisions.
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Sierra National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R5 - Pacific Southwest Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Amendment of the Forest LMP Plan for Compliance with PGE Land Donation Conservation Covenant
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Land management planning  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 05/31/2024  		Expected:08/2024
  		09/2024 Judith Tapia
559-903-6758
judith.tapia@usda.gov 
Description: Forest Plan amendment to commit to Conservation Covenant for the Wishon land donation from PG&E.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=66301
Location: UNIT - Sierra National Forest All Units. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - APN 133-190-01U. Along the Wishon Reservoir along the eastern border partially in wilderness.
Forest-wide Prescribed Fire Project
CE
 - Fuels management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Judith Tapia
559-297-0706 extension 4938
judith.tapia@usda.gov 
Description: We propose to use prescribed fire (underburning and pile burning), up to 10,000 acres per year, to address fuel conditions throughout the Sierra National Forest.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53849
Location: UNIT - Sierra National Forest All Units. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno, Madera, Mariposa. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Sierra National Forest lands outside of wilderness.
Kaiser East Restoration Project
CE
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/01/2023  		Expected:02/2025
  		07/2025 Matthew Avery
559-297-0706 x4951
matthew.avery@usda.gov 
Description: help the project area to be more resilient to future drought, restore and preserve wildlife habitat to persist and to reduce the likelihood of uncharacteristic wildfire with all the associated damage that causes to resources
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65402
Location: UNIT - Sierra National Forest All Units. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Not Applicable. east of Huntington Lake between the Kaiser and Dinkey Lake Wildernesses.
Kelty Restoration Project
CE
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/01/2023  		Expected:02/2025
  		07/2025 James Simmons
530-336-3316
james.m.simmons@usda.gov 
Description: help these project areas to be more resilient to drought, restore and preserve wildlife habitat to persist and to reduce the likelihood of uncharacteristic wildfire
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65401
Location: UNIT - Sierra National Forest All Units. STATE - California. COUNTY - Madera. LEGAL - Not Applicable. east of Nelder Grove and west of Sierra Vista South Restoration Project including Fresno Dome and Kelty Meadow campgrounds.
Priority Watershed OHV Route Restoration Project Upper Big Creek and South Fork Willow Creek
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Kellen Takenaka
559-297-0706 x4936
kellen.takenaka@usda.gov 
Description: The proposed action is to restore 9.55 miles of non-system OHV tracks in the Upper Big Creek Watershed and 3.25 miles of non-system tracks in the South Fork Willow Creek Watershed.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48890
Location: UNIT - Sierra National Forest All Units. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno, Madera. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Upper Big Creek and South Form Willow Creeks watersheds.
Sequoia and Sierra National Forests Prescribed Fire Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Fuels management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/20/2023
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 09/2024  		Expected:07/2025
  		07/2025 Heather Stewart
458-231-5632
heather.stewart@usda.gov 
Description: Implement a range of prescribed fire techniques across the landscape.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65081
Location: UNIT - Sierra National Forest All Units. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The entirety of both the Sierra and Sequoia National Forests.
Sierra NF Roadside Hazard Abatement Project
CE
 - Road management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Judith Tapia
559-297-0706
judith.tapia@usda.gov 
Description: Abatement of hazardous trees along roadsides
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58469
Location: UNIT - Sierra National Forest All Units. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno, Madera, Mariposa. LEGAL - Not Applicable. up to 300 feet along maintenance level 2, 3 and 4 roads throughout the forest.
Special Use Permit Issuance for Phase 2 of the Ferguson Slide Permanent Restoration Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management
- Road management 		 Cancelled  N/A  N/A Judith Tapia
559-297-0706
judith.tapia@usda.gov 
Description: This project has been cancelled.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47068
Location: UNIT - Sierra National Forest All Units. STATE - California. COUNTY - Mariposa. LEGAL - Not Applicable. SR 140 from 5.1 kilometers (3.2 miles) east of Briceburg to approximately 9.7 kilometers (6.0 miles) west of El Portal.
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Sierra National Forest,   Bass Lake Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R5 - Pacific Southwest Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Beasore Meadows Water Company Tank Installation
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/15/2024  		Expected:09/2024
  		09/2024 Janet Sanchez
559-877-2218 x3111
janet.sanchez@usda.gov 
Description: Authorize the installation of two 5,000-gallon polyvinyl water storage tanks on 10'x10' pads made of railroad ties and gravel fill and placed adjacent to the currently existing tanks. The new tanks, waterline, and pads will be above-ground.
Location: UNIT - Bass Lake Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Madera. LEGAL - T5S, R23E, Sec. 23. North of Beasore Meadows and west of Beasore Meadows subdivision off a non-system private access road off of FS road 5S07 (Beasore road).
Calvin-Reyes Special Use Permit and Road Relocation
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 07/05/2011
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 07/2024  		Expected:09/2024
  		09/2024 Lisa Gammell
559-784-1500
lisa.gammell@usda.gov 
Description: Issue a FRTA Permit to allowing access on FS road 6S504 as well as construction of a new road on FS land.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=66511
Location: UNIT - Bass Lake Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Madera. LEGAL - NW quarter of 7T6SR23E MDM. Assessors parcel numbers 059-054-021 and 022.
Doublegate/Lone Sequoia/Timberloft Prescribed Burns - NEPA Review
CE
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Burt Stalter
559-877-2218
burt.stalter@usda.gov 
Description: Improve forest health and wildlife forage though reduction of existing fuels, suppressed conifers and brush. A NEPA consistancy review is needed so that prescribed buurning may continue and achieve a "maintenance burn" level through multiple entries.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44590
Location: UNIT - Bass Lake Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Madera. LEGAL - T6S, R21E, Sec 2-4,9-16. See #15.
Graham Restoration Project
CE
 - Fuels management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/29/2023  		Expected:02/2025
  		07/2025 John Polisar
559-297-0706
John.Polisar@usda.gov 
Description: Fuel reduction, forest restoration, increase forest resilience and resistance to drought and inserts, and reduce likelihood of uncharacteristic severe wildfire.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65394
Location: UNIT - Bass Lake Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Madera. LEGAL - Not Applicable. NE of Bass Lake, in N Fork Willow Creek watershed, sub-watershed of Upper San Joaquin River Basin, surrounds Central Camp, includes Gaggs and Whisker's campgrounds.
Recreation residence Chepo 3 SUP reissuance
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/16/2024  		Expected:07/2024
  		12/2024 Janet Sanchez
559-877-2218 x3111
janet.sanchez@usda.gov 
Description: Reissue a permit to the new cabin owner underthe condition that current non-compliance issues be recitified. Cabin Maintenace, deck reconstruction, water system repair/upgrade, veg management/fuel reduction
Location: UNIT - Bass Lake Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Madera. LEGAL - T7S, R22E, SWSE Sec 25. Near Bass Lake off of County Road 274 and FS Road 7S501 (Browns Ditch).
Roundtree Fuelbreak
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Fuels management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 06/2024  		Expected:09/2024  10/2024 Burt Stalter
559-877-2218
burt.stalter@usda.gov 
Description:  The proposed action is to establish, re-establish and maintain 368 acres of a historically used Roundtree Fuelbreak that originated as firelines from past wildfires in the area. This project is in Cooperation with local Cal Fire MMU Unit.
Location: UNIT - Bass Lake Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Mariposa. LEGAL - Township(s): T5 &6 S, Range(s): R20&21E, Section(s): T5S (11,24,23,26 (T6S) 1,6. It is located along the front country bordering WUI area of Ponderosa Basin that has a very high density of private property and infrastructure. Along west and south sides of Ponderosa Basin community.
Sierra Vista South Restoration Project
CE
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/01/2023  		Expected:03/2025
  		07/2025 James Simmons
530-336-3316
james.m.simmons@usda.gov 
Description: located along portions of the Sierra Scenic Byway and is north of Chilkoot Lake and south of Globe Rock.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65404
Location: UNIT - Bass Lake Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Madera. LEGAL - Not Applicable. located along portions of the Sierra Scenic Byway and is north of Chilkoot Lake and south of Globe Rock.
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Sierra National Forest,   High Sierra Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R5 - Pacific Southwest Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
China Peak Snow-Making Project
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Elaine Locke
559-855-5355 x3306
elaine.locke@usda.gov 
Description: China Peak proposes to install snowmaking pipeline (12 inch) in place of existing pipeline. Existing pipeline will stay in place and used to attach new pipeline to.
Location: UNIT - High Sierra Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Not Applicable. China Peak Ski Resort off Highway 168, High Sierra Ranger District, Sierra National Forest.
Fence Meadow Hazard Abatement Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Road management  Cancelled  N/A  N/A Judith Tapia
559-297-0706
judith.tapia@usda.gov 
Description: Hazard tree abatement on roads including sections of forest roads: 10S69, 10S24, 10S67, 11S08, 11S91 and 10S45.
Location: UNIT - High Sierra Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Not Applicable. . The majority of the project, approximately 80 percent, is within the Dinkey creek watershed with the balance being located within the Pine Flat Reservoir %u2013 Kings River watershed.
Florence Lake Area Recreation Rehabilitation Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/01/2021  		Expected:06/2024
  		06/2024 Elaine Locke
559-855-5355 x3306
elaine.locke@usda.gov 
Description: Florence
Location: UNIT - High Sierra Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Not Applicable. T7S R27E Section 36.
Gigantea Fuels Reduction and Restoration Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Completed  Actual: 05/03/2024  07/2024 Tiffany Wade
559-855-7144
tiffany.wade@usda.gov 
Description: . The project is designed to reduce the threat of wildfire to the McKinley Grove of giant sequoias.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63529
Location: UNIT - High Sierra Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project is located in and around McKinley Grove.
Issuance of New Private Camp Special Use Permit - Kennolyn Lake Camp
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/01/2018  		Expected:07/2024
  		07/2024 Elaine Locke
559-855-5355 x3306
elaine.locke@usda.gov 
Description: The area authorized to De La Salle Institute, Camp La Salle, sold to Kennolyn Lake Camp. Use code change from 113, Organization Camp, to 115, Private Camp. No changes in scope to existing facilities or services currently offered or capacity of site.
Location: UNIT - High Sierra Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Township 8 South, Range 25 East, Section 12, Mt. Diablo Meridian. Huntington Lake near Lakeshore, CA, approximately 75 miles northeast of Fresno, CA. Permit area includes camp and boat dock area.
Mount Tom Allotment Corrals
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Grazing management  Completed  Actual: 05/24/2024  08/2024 Uyen Lien
559-593-3360
Uyen.Lien@usda.gov 
Description: The project proposal is to construct pipe corrals to facilitate livestock handling and management in the Mount Tom Allotment.
Location: UNIT - High Sierra Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Township 7 South Range 25 E Sections. The proposed corrals are located within the Mount Tom Allotment near Brown Cone off 6S02 Road, near Heliport and West Kaiser off 6S31 Road and near Hoffman Meadow off the 6S69Y Road.
Rainbow Garnet AML Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/04/2019  		Expected:08/2024
  		09/2024 Kellen Takenaka
559-385-6532
kellen.takenaka@usda.gov 
Description: Removal of four structures, closure of an open inclined shaft, re-contouring/restoration of two tailings ponds, and removal of mining debris throughout the mine site.
Location: UNIT - High Sierra Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Township 9 South, Range 26 East, Sections 13 & 14. The abandoned mine site is located 0.5 miles to the east-southeast of the Dinkey Lakes Trailhead approximately 0.2 miles from the wilderness boundary.
Red Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Staging Area Toilet
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management  Completed  Actual: 05/31/2024  07/2024 John Polisar
559-297-0706 x4838
John.Polisar@usda.gov 
Description: Sierra National Forest (SNF) is proposing to construct a single vault toilet that will accompany an existing Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Staging Area that serves the Red Mountain OHV trail system on the High Sierra Ranger District (HSRD).
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=64948
Location: UNIT - High Sierra Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Project area is located within the Red Mountain OHV Staging Area in the Tamarack Creek drainage off Highway 168 below Huntington Lake, at the junction of Forest Roads 8S IO and 8S42. The legal descrip.
Teakettle Prescribed Burn Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Fuels management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 07/11/2023  		Expected:09/2024
  		10/2024 Laura Hierholzer
707-562-8949
laura.hierholzer@usda.gov 
Description: prescribe burn approximately 3,800 acres, construct approximately 5 miles of fire control lines, and remove overhead hazards along approximately 16 miles of road
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=64413
Location: UNIT - High Sierra Ranger District. STATE - California. COUNTY - Fresno. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Teakettle Experimental Forest.
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