Canyons Subdivision Fuels Reduction Project, Salida CO

The Canyons Subdivision Fuels Reduction Project is a portion of the 5 linear mile Methodist Front Fuel Break Project. To achieve connectivity between mastication units on either side of the subdivision, this portion of the larger scale fuel break involves hand thinning on residential lots to extend defensible spaces and reduce fuel densities south of Hutchinson Ln. Seventeen of the twenty lots present within the Canyons Subdivision agreed to participate in the project and have trees marked for removal. As a result of working with each lot owner individually to find mutual agreement in treatment, variety exists in the level of thinning to occur on each parcel.

The majority of the work will include removals of pinon and juniper trees to increase crown spacing, removal of understory junipers along a linear cottonwood stand, and removal of existing down material that serve as jackpots of fuel. This work will include full tree removals by hand crews, chipping of slash material both generated by thinning and existing within the project area, and material too large for chipping will either be left onsite for firewood or removed depending on the desires of individual lot owners.