Mill Fire's Landscape Alteration
Post-fire rehabilitation of destination OHV areas on Forest
Service lands requires a lot dedication, determination, and dollars/labor. Sometimes, the landscape is altered for
several generations.
Key trail entrance landmarks such as trees and boulders are often
destroyed by the wildfire or impacted by heavy equipment used to blaze dozer
lines around the fire.
Dozer Lines Can Also Remove Trail Entrance Features
On a recent work detail, QWR’s Sound Trails Initiative had
the opportunity to help restore trail entrance features and vehicle-type
control devices on the Mendocino National Forest.
Trail Delineators Ready for Installation on MC/ATV Trail
As many of you know, the 2012 Mill Fire destroyed about
82,000 acres within the boundaries of the Stonyford OHV Area on the Grindstone
Ranger District in Northern California.
Much of the landscape is now unrecognizable and important trail entrance
features are no longer there.
Delineators Installed on Designated MC/ATV Trail
To help identify trail entrances and vehicle-type
restrictions, the Forest has been installing new trail delineators on important
route entrances. Over the last year,
hundreds of trail delineators have been installed with the help of agency
staff and volunteers to help prepare the unit for the fall riding season.
Trail Delineators Installed on Trail for Full-Size Vehicles
This summer’s fire season has devastated a lot of federal
timber lands in the West including portions of the Stanislaus National Forest
burned by Rim Fire. Installing managed
OHV recreation trail control structures will be important to reopen those routes
in an expeditious manner.
QWR believes that volunteers will continue to play an
important role in those trail projects.
It is a team effort to repair post-fire damage and will require continued partnerships
with users, agency staff, grant funds where available, and other stakeholders.
Agency/Volunteer Work Party
Lastly, QWR wants to thank our partners and sponsors for the
support over the last year which has enabled us to help with the ongoing post-fire
trail rehabilitation efforts on the Mendocino National Forest.
Tools of the Trade
Great work Don. And a huge tip of the hat to all who volunteered to help.
ReplyDeleteWe have an offer out to round up local volunteer help for rehab of the Bison Fire that burned in the Pine Nut Mountains, east of Carson City Nv. Heard back initially but haven't heard anything recently from BLM.
Bottom line. GET INVOLVED. It works.