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The sound of machinery resumes near Mount Elden for FWPP thinning FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., July 13, 2018 – For Immediate Release:
The Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project will begin timber harvesting on July 16 to thin trees on approximately 642 acres of National Forest in the Dry Lake Hills
along Schultz Creek and the base of Mount Elden.
These thinning activities are necessary to reduce the risk of a catastrophic fire burning the vegetation and forest canopy, which could cause severe post-fire flooding into the City
of Flagstaff. Heavy truck traffic will occur on Forest Road 420, Schultz Pass road; FR 557, Eldon Lookout road, and state Route 180.
A Phoenix-based company, Dakota Logging LLC, was awarded the timber sale contract, which was not completed by another contractor last year. Dakota Logging will begin moving in equipment
July 16 and has one year to complete the work. The work in the Dry Lake and Schultz Pass area will involve a closure in the immediate fuels reduction area and some nearby trails.
Work is expected to move from east to west across the area, which means different trails may be closed
at different times. The first trails with sections to be closed on July 16 will be
Forces of Nature Trail and the Pipeline Trail will be closed from the Oldham Junction to the east.
Entrances from E. Appalachian Road and E. Skyline Drive areas will also be closed. Harvesting operations may continue through July 2019. Trail changes and closure areas will be kept to
a minimum and focused on areas with active logging operations. One future change is the Arizona National Scenic Trail will be temporarily detoured through the city as the harvesting encroaches it. As trails and closure areas are deemed safe they will
be opened for public use to keep disruptions to a minimum.
Previous work in this area included building a temporary road, hand thinning and prescribed burning. After completion of the project, temporary roads will be closed and revegetated.
Visitors and residents must stay out of closed areas and use caution while in the general area. Be aware
of working crews, logging trucks and heavy equipment. All changes in the fuels reduction area will be posted at forest information boards and online at
https://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino or
www.flagstaffwatershedprotection.org. For additional information, contact the Flagstaff Ranger District at 928-526-0866.
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Attachment:
COC-JNR-07-13-2017-FWPPLoggingBeginAgain.pdf
Description: COC-JNR-07-13-2017-FWPPLoggingBeginAgain.pdf
Attachment:
FWPP_CU1_Trail_Closures11x8.jpg
Description: FWPP_CU1_Trail_Closures11x8.jpg
