The Inyo National Forest, Mammoth Ranger District, is seeking input on the proposed Mammoth Lakes Basin Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project. The project lies within the Mammoth Lakes Basin around developed structures, campgrounds, and roads; near Twin Lakes, Horseshoe Lake, Lake Mary, Lake George, and Lake Mamie; and aims to reduce fuels in order to create defensible space to aid wildfire suppression activities. The proposed project is 667 acres and would include thinning of selected trees up to 30 inches in diameter. Trees that are dead and dying from drought, insects, and/ or pathogens will be targeted for removal while larger, more vigorous, fire resistant trees would be retained. A combination of ground based mechanical equipment and hand crews would be used to accomplish the work. Resulting timber from fuels treatments will be sold for fuel wood or saw logs, and residual slash and tree tops will be piled and burned or chipped.

Thinning of conifers promotes healthy forests by increasing the vigor of remaining trees to withstand drought, and insect outbreaks. Thinned forests that have greater spacing between trees and less ladder fuels, decreases the chance of high severity fire, and increases fire crews’ ability to defend homes and structures from wildfire.

There will be a public meeting about the proposed action on Thursday, October 13 at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium at the Mammoth Ranger Station, 2400 Highway 203, Mammoth Lakes, CA. For additional information or to comment on this project please contact Eric Vane at 760 924-5509 or by email at ericdvane@fs.fed.us.