Fuel Reduction
Fuel Reduction project remove vegetation (fuel) from project areas. This project will this the forest in the Lakes Basin by removing line and dead trees, cutting dense brush and pruning branches along roads and around cabins. Fuels will be disposed of by: piling and burning, chipping, and/or removal from the area.
Over the past decade wildfires in California have become larger and burned at higher severity. An analysis conducted by the Inyo National Forest in 2018 concluded that the Lakes Basin is likely to burn at high severity under the right weather conditions. This project aims to reduce wildfire severity, improve public and firefighter safety, protect infrastructure and Mammoth lakes’ drinking water supply. Fuels reduction work will also improve forest health and reduce the future likelihood of tree mortality from pest, pathogens and drought by making more nutrients available to the remaining trees, this will preserve the natural beauty of the area.
Yes! Some of the wood from the project will be made available for public wood cutting. USFS personal fuel woodcutting permits will be required for collecting the wood.
Funding for this project has been provided by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy an agency of the State of California, under the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) grant cycle and in support of the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program