Saturday, August 14, 2004. 

On this all-day field trip, attendees stopped at a 20-acre tract with three homes, where the homeowners had been working (without financial assistance) to cut dead conifer trees, stack and pile the tree trunk sections and the slash (branches) thus reducing density to about 40 trees/acre; and prune trees to 12 to 20 feet above ground. San Diego Gas & Electric personnel showed a typical site where trees had been felled to reduce risks of dead trees falling on powerlines and starting expensive fires. Even outside the standard powerline access right of way, contractors have felled trees 100-300 feet talk that were close enough to fall on a powerline in a storm, wildfire, or other event. A FireSafe Council member showed her home, the setting, and the tree felling and vegetation reduction work already done.  Cleveland National Forest staff described the planned 860-acre Fry Creek Vegetation Treatment project where trees will be marked; short roads will be built; and the area will be selectively logged. This project will reduce fuels to create a shaded fuelbreak, and allow for future low-intensity prescribed fires. 

Agenda and field notes

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