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U.S. Forest Service
News Release
Media Contact: Brady Smith Logging to resume in timber sale south of Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Ariz., Mar 25, 2015 — For Immediate Release. Contractors will resume forest
restoration efforts in the Howard Timber Sale area south of Flagstaff, east of Mountainaire.
Heavy machinery is thinning in an area located along the north side of Priest Draw. Beginning mid-April trucks will be hauling material from the
project area using Forest Road 132 to Lake Mary Road. The public is urged to use caution while in the vicinity.
Work will be intermittent and ongoing for the next several months as conditions allow. In this section of the project, approximately 570 acres will
be thinned. These logging efforts are helping to restore the forest to more natural conditions, improve habitat, and reduce the risk of severe fire in this critical area adjacent to the community.
In addition to active cutting and hauling operations, expect to see a change in the landscape. During and immediately after hazardous fuels are
removal, the forest will look very different. Over time, it will recover and return to a more natural, healthier, and an even more beautiful state. Within one to two years, there is usually a dramatic improvement in appearance as ground disturbance fades away,
slash piles are burned, and new plants and animals move into the area. Those visiting the area may also notice orange marks on trees within the timber sale. Trees with orange paint are designated as “leave trees” –
the trees that will not be removed. Leave trees are chosen strategically through a meticulous analysis and prescription process prior to operations, and include the wide range of age and sizes to promote a diverse and sustainable forest.
Unusable slash and debris will be piled in place and after the piles have cured, fire managers will conduct prescribed pile burns when conditions
are appropriate – usually when snow is on the ground.
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