Kernville, CA: The Sequoia National Forest, Kern River Ranger District has approved the Sirretta Road Blowdown Salvage project. The project will provide ecological restoration by reducing fuel loading through removal of dead or damaged trees and prescribed burning. These treatments will also provide an economic use of woody material by timely salvage of timber that is already dead or dying. Additionally, it will remove hazard trees from public roadways in the Sirretta Road/Sherman Pass area of eastern Tulare County. The Forest Service will ensure the protection of wildlife habitat by leaving some of the largest dead trees (snags) and avoiding sensitive plant and animal populations. The Kern Plateau experienced an exceptional snow year this past winter, with strong winds and twice the average snowpack. This combination of wind and snow loading resulted in a large number of trees being blown down or snapping. The area near Sherman Pass Road (22S05) and Sirretta Road (22S21) was particularly hard hit. Several categories of trees will be removed on or near the road, including blowdown trees, standing snapped trees, leaners, and faders. The project area consists primarily of red fir with minor amounts of white fir, lodgepole pine and western white pine.

The project area is estimated at 199 acres, including 128 acres of roadside hazard and salvage treatment and 71 acres within blowdown salvage units beyond the roadway. Activity fuels generated by the project will be treated by piling and burning within 50’ of the road, or jackpot burning within salvage units. Woody material that either has fallen or has the potential to fall and obstruct roads and trails will be removed. The Sirretta Road Blowdown Salvage project will protect these forest stands from high severity, stand-replacing burns in the future and support the reintroduction of fire.

If you have any questions about the project, please contact Penelope Shibley, Kern River Ranger District, by phone at (760) 376-3781 ext. 650 or by email at pshibley@fs.fed.us.