County offers information about tree removal project
County offers information about tree removal project
By: Mary Beth Garrison
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 1 comment
An informational public meeting, regarding the proposed hazardous fuels removal project for Tehachapi Mountain Park, will be held on Thursday, May 11, at 6 p.m. in the West Park Activity Center located at 410 W. D St.
This important fuels project is designed to remove the dead and dying trees covering more than half of the park’s forested acres. The dead and diseased vegetation, the result of years of insect infestation, drought and heavy overgrowth, creates extremely hazardous wildfire conditions leaving the Tehachapi Valley vulnerable to devastation as severe as that seen in the San Bernardino wildfires of a few short years ago.
Elements such as slope, aspect and tree size cause the existing trees to fight for adequate nutrients and water. As in all of nature, the strong survive leaving the rest to languish and eventually die creating brittle kindling for a life-threatening wildfire event.
A healthy forest supports from 50 to 150 trees per acre — depending upon tree size, soil richness, water availability, climate conditions and the slope of the land.
Currently, Tehachapi Mountain Park boasts an average of 1,500 trees per acre with an average mortality of 50 —60 percent. With so much overgrowth, the park’s current condition has become a hazard to hikers and campers that visit this area.
The project, classified as a Timber Harvest Plan, is designed to improve forest health and prevent a devastating wildfire which could cause extensive damage to the brush and trees within the park’s boundaries. Conditions within the park mimic those seen in the Southland during the 2003 fire season where hundreds of homes and many lives were lost. It will take generations for that area to recover.
The Kern County Parks Department wants to be proactive in opening discussions regarding the project as they seek to protect the community and one of Kern County’s finest public park facilities. An overview of the project will be presented during the Thursday night meeting. A registered forester, a wildfire behavior expert and local fire personnel will be on hand to answer questions.
This important fuels project is designed to remove the dead and dying trees covering more than half of the park’s forested acres. The dead and diseased vegetation, the result of years of insect infestation, drought and heavy overgrowth, creates extremely hazardous wildfire conditions leaving the Tehachapi Valley vulnerable to devastation as severe as that seen in the San Bernardino wildfires of a few short years ago.
Elements such as slope, aspect and tree size cause the existing trees to fight for adequate nutrients and water. As in all of nature, the strong survive leaving the rest to languish and eventually die creating brittle kindling for a life-threatening wildfire event.
A healthy forest supports from 50 to 150 trees per acre — depending upon tree size, soil richness, water availability, climate conditions and the slope of the land.
Currently, Tehachapi Mountain Park boasts an average of 1,500 trees per acre with an average mortality of 50 —60 percent. With so much overgrowth, the park’s current condition has become a hazard to hikers and campers that visit this area.
The project, classified as a Timber Harvest Plan, is designed to improve forest health and prevent a devastating wildfire which could cause extensive damage to the brush and trees within the park’s boundaries. Conditions within the park mimic those seen in the Southland during the 2003 fire season where hundreds of homes and many lives were lost. It will take generations for that area to recover.
The Kern County Parks Department wants to be proactive in opening discussions regarding the project as they seek to protect the community and one of Kern County’s finest public park facilities. An overview of the project will be presented during the Thursday night meeting. A registered forester, a wildfire behavior expert and local fire personnel will be on hand to answer questions.
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Sat May 6, 2006 15:13:36 PDT
Let it burn Tehchachapi City will put it out with 1 firetruck!
