Mother Lode Fuelwood Program and Policy

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A permit is needed for any and all cutting and or removal of vegetative material on Public Lands (Mining claims are not an exception).

Due to the land pattern of Mother Lode Field Office administered lands, fuelwood is handled on a "case by case basis". It is up to potential purchasers to locate suitable dead and down material. Purchasers need to have knowledge of property boundaries, and have legal access to the material being sought.

If the Public lands administered by BLM's Mother Lode Field Office are not known to the potential purchaser. It is suggested that a BLM land status map be obtained, (for that area of interest) and sufficient reconnaissance done to locate fuelwood that meets the criteria necessary for sale.

Once material is located by the potential purchaser, a “on site” meeting will be set up. This can be done by calling the Mother Lode Field Office at (916) 941-3101, or one of the Ranger satellite offices. At the on site meeting a BLM employee will verify the fuelwood material is in fact on public land, and legal access does exist for the purchaser. Also at that time the BLM employee will mark the fuelwood material, and complete a fuelwood contract.

In NO case will a contract be issued without the fuelwood being designated in some manner, or marked on site.

Material must be dead and down (not dead or down). Some circumstances of standing dead trees may be sold if the situation is called for (such as Hazards), and the purchaser is previously known to be competent & reliable.

Maximum  five (5) cords per residence

Any commercial (5+) cords contracts will be handled by a Mother Lode Field Office Forester only

Time of year fuelwood contracts are issued:

• START  -  October 15th 
  (if fire season allows; 1 week delays until moisture level reduces fire danger to acceptable level)
  
  
• END  -  June 15th 
  (or beginning of fire season if sooner, and conditions warrant)                                                           

Costs for fuelwood - (Personal Use Only):  

• Dead and Down / Softwoods-Conifers              $ 25.00  / Per Cord
  
  
• Dead and Down / Hardwoods                            $ 30.00 /  Per Cord

 
Contract Duration – Usually 1 – 2 Months (shorter the better) Maximum of three months.

A one time only extension can be given under justifiable circumstances.

Minimum: No contract can be written for less than $ 25.00 (minimum administrative cost)

Contract specifies “No refunds”  (even if wood is never cut & removed)

Along with the Fuelwood Contract - A page of Noncommercial Special Stipulations, Sections I–V, shall accompany each contract form.

Any exceptions to the above procedures shall be coordinated with a Forestry Program Lead and/or the Mother Lode Field Office Manager.