Contact: Mark Lemon 559-877-2218
For immediate release.
Clovis (July 28, 2008)...The Sierra National Forest will be hosting two (2) field visits to the Sugar Pine Adaptive Management Project (SNAMP). The SNAMP project proposes to create a network of strategically placed landscape area treatments (SPLATs) and defensible fuels profiles near key transportation corridors to reduce the intensity and spread of wildfires across the landscape and near communities. As part of the proposal, further treatments to improve forest health within and outside of the SPLATs are proposed to reduce inter-tree competition and improve tree vigor to provide increased stand resistance to drought conditions, insect and disease attack.
The area affected by the proposal includes 5,416 acres within two watersheds; Fresno River and Big Creek, ten miles north of Oakhurst. The project is centered on the community of Sugar Pine (designated as Wildland Urban Intermix [WUI]), immediately east of State Highway 41. Vegetation types include ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, hardwood species, as well as areas dominated by brush, rock and steep slopes.
The purpose of the field visits will be to inform and present t information regarding the different alternatives in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and to let people know how prepare the comments on the DEIS. Information on the field trips is listed below:
- When: Wednesday, August 5 and Saturday, August 8, 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Where to Meet: US Forest Service, Batterson Workstation, Highway 41 (across from Sky Ranch Road)
- What to Bring: Please bring a lunch and water/refreshments
