Groveland Highway 120 Fuel Break Maintenance

Map of Groveland Maintenance Project

In 2024, the Tuolumne Fire Safe Council received grant money from CALFIRE to do maintenance work on two roadside fuel breaks in the Groveland area.

The Highway 120 section of the project is along the north side of Highway 120 from Tenaya Elementary School to the east entrance to old Highway 120. The original project was completed in 2010 and covered 25 acres along a 25-75 foot strip. Mastication will be done on 14.5 acres, with the remaining 10.5 acres will be treated by hand thinning, chipping and pile burning. 

The Smith Station portion of the  project extends 100 feet on both sides of Smith Station Road from Highway 120 to the Mariposa County line. The original work was completed in 2017. Approximately 50 acres would be treated by hand thinning, chipping, and pile burning. 

The project is in the initial phase of gathering permission from landowners and conducting required environmental surveys. The plan is to complete the surveys and project layout during summer 2025. After that is done, the project will go out to bid. Work would begin once contractors have been selected, likely in winter 2025-2026.

The project is funded by CALFIRE with a California Climate Investments (CCI) Grant.

Update 1/14/26: Work began on the Smith Station Road portion of the project on 1/12.  It is anticipated, weather permitting, the Smith Station section will be completed by 3/15. 

Update 3/24/26: Smith Station unit had a Wildlife Limited Operating Period that ended 2/15/2026.  Contractor finished treatment, primarily mastication, on 2/09.  Treatment area was verified by CALFIRE on 2/11 and was approximately 34 acres total.  Area was originally planned for 50 aces, but there was a paved road running through the middle of the treatment area, and an additional exclusion area was found after the start of the project.  Contractor has demobilized until the beginning of March.  Council is required to obtain a migratory bird nesting survey as a condition of the Caltrans encroachment permit.  Survey is now complete.  Contractor must start work within 14 days of the bird survey.

Work progressing on the Groveland Maintenance Project
Work progressing on the Groveland Maintenance Project
  • I made my first visit in a while to our cabin on Smith Station and got a look at the shaded fuel break, and wow, is it ever clean.  I really appreciate how little the ground was gouged by the equipment.

    Thanks again for chasing me down and getting the contracts signed, it looks great.

    Special thanks to the Tuolumne Fire Safe Council.
    CNN