CAL FIRE's CalVTPs in the Southern Sierra Foothills
Thursday, February 9th, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Link to Webinar Recording
This webinar was an opportunity to learn about expediting fuels treatments in California through the California Vegetation Treatment Programmatic EIR (CalVTP). Participants increased their understanding of the CalVTP process and how it can be applied.
CAL FIRE's Unit Forester, Brian Mattos, discussed the CEQA decision making process, what a VTP covers, and what goes into creating a CAL FIRE Burn Plan. CAL FIRE's Environmental Scientist, Sebastien Cordier, explained how to start a VTP, what information is needed, and share examples from his approved VTP projects Vista Del Rio and Buillion Ridge.
| Time | Item |
|---|---|
| 10:00am | Webinar begins, presenter introductions |
| Brian Mattos: CEQA Decision Tree & VTP Introduction | |
| Brian Mattos: How CAL FIRE Creates a Burn Plan | |
| Sebastien Cordier: VTP Orientation | |
| Sebastien Cordier: Virtual Field Visits: Vista Del Rio & Bullion Ridge | |
| Brian Mattos & Sebastien Cordier: Conclusion | |
|
Audience Q&A |
|
| 12:00pm | Webinar close |
Trainers:
Brian Mattos, Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Forester- CAL FIRE
Brian Mattos is a Registered Professional Forester, a Licensed Timber Operator, a timberland owner, and a graduate of Humboldt State University and the National Park Service Natural Resources Management Training Program. He retired from a 35-year federal career managing vegetation at National Parks in California, Alaska and Colorado, including 22 years as the Park Forester at Yosemite, and was lead author of: Interface between fire and forests—tree management in the National Park Service. Brian is the Unit Forester for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in Madera, Mariposa, and Merced Counties, responsible for Forest Practice Enforcement on non-federal timberlands. He directs Fire Suppression Repair on major incidents, co-leads Watershed Emergency Response Team deployments, and teaches fire behavior in S-190, S-290, and S-390 courses.
Sebastien Cordier, Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Environmental Scientist, CAL FIRE
Sebastien Cordier is an Environmental Scientist with six years of work experience. Currently working for CAL FIRE (Madera-Mariposa-Merced), completing CEQA paperwork and surveys for fuel break and prescribed fire projects. Completed undergraduate at UC Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolution. Completed postgrad at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland with a M.S. in Biodiversity and Conservation. Volunteered in Seychelles to assist sea turtle monitoring, bird surveys, and night surveys. Worked in Texas, India, and Kazakhstan on pest species and the diseases they carry, mainly sand flies while in India. Field crew lead and acting project manager for a targeted grazing study. Leading three crews in different states to perform vegetation surveys, recording the impacts of cattle grazing near roadsides and if they can be an effective management tool to reduce fire risk.
