By Tonya Morrey, Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator, Central Cascades

The Nature Conservancy will begin some new projects to improve forest health and reduce the risk of forest fires on Cle Elum Ridge in April.

Work on Central Cascades Forest lands will affect some recreational trails and access while these projects are ongoing. People visiting the forest should watch for trail closure signs and for heavy machinery, and avoid work areas.

In June, a contracted crew will begin work on a 340-acre commercial logging operation intended to reduce fuels that would feed forest fires on the “How Go” unit of the Cle Elum Ridge to restore forest health. This project will protect the towns of Cle Elum, Roslyn and Ronald by reducing fuels and providing a fuel break should a fire occur. This project is expected to continue through 2022.

Beginning in April, the Conservancy added another 234 acres to its ongoing forest mastication project, which uses heavy machinery to chew up combustible shrubs and materials such as diseased and dead trees and ladder fuels. The Conservancy expects the mastication project to be complete by July 2021.

Impacted roads and trails include: Alliance Road, Main Ridge Road, Rat Pac Downhill Trail and Up Track, Canyon 6 Traverse, Middle Traverse, Grotto, Beer Can, Ewok and Never Ending Hills. Logging trucks will use the Main Ridge Road and Alliance Road as the haul route.

The Nature Conservancy and local, state and federal partners have been working together in this region for several years to restore forests and reduce the risk of fire on all forest lands, whether they are managed by the Conservancy, other private landowners, or state and federal agencies.

On Cle Elum Ridge, we’re working on privately owned lands managed by the Conservancy. Our efforts to restore long-term forest health in an environmentally safe and economically sound manner will include selective harvest and thinning, tree-planting, and brush control, all guided by the best available science.

Banner photo © Zoe van Duivenbode/TNC

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