Forest Service considers thinning near Estes Park ( reduce destructive wildfire potential )

Loveland Reporter-Herald ^ | September 09, 2007 | Ann Depperschmidt

[george76]

U.S. Forest Service officials have released a plan to reduce destructive wildfire potential on about 8,100 acres of forest land east of Estes Park.

The goal of the Thompson River Fuel Reduction Project is to reduce the spread and intensity of wildfires that could affect private property and municipal water supplies in and around the Big and Little Thompson rivers and to protect the forest’s ecosystem.

Historically, small fires thinned forest undergrowth and kept the chances for a large wildfire to a minimum.

But through much of the 20th century, people suppressed those fires. That left a more dense undergrowth, increasing the chance for a severe fire.

For the past year, officials have collected public input while developing the plan. The project includes three alternatives in reducing wildfire fuels on Forest Service land ...

[sawmill trash]

“Pecker poles”, those aren’t trees.

They look like what is used here for chip-n-saw logs
Maybe OSB or pulp wood

[forester]

These trees likely will be small and end up as landscape mulch...?
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If it pays...most probably will be burned (wasted) on site....