Inyo National Forest

News Release

US Forest Service

Inyo National Forest

Contacts: Nancy Upham, 760-873-2427

Bishop, CA (March 20, 2008)...The Inyo National Forest is proposing to plant approximately 360 acres within the June Fire, which burned in July of 2007.  The project area is along both sides of Highway 395, approximately one mile north of the south June Lake junction (Hwy 158).  The area proposed for planting was formerly forested with Jeffrey pine trees, and is proposed to be planted with two-year-old Jeffrey pine seedlings starting in the spring of 2010.

The proposed action involves activities associated with site preparation and reforestation.  A combination of hand felling and mechanical piling of resulting and existing fuels, in addition to use of prescribed fire (pile burning), is expected to occur in 2009 to reduce current fuel loading to acceptable levels on approximately 200 acres.   Planting of Jeffrey pine seedlings (approximately 200 seedlings per acre) would occur in 2010.  Currently 360 acres of the 680 acres burned in the fire have been identified for planting.

Seedlings to be planted would come from seed collected on the Inyo National Forest, from the appropriate seed zone and elevation.  Additionally, as grasses and shrubs re-sprout in the burned area, some site preparation or post-planting release may be necessary to limit competition for soil moisture and ensure seedling survival.

Comments on this proposed project should be addressed to Jon Regelbrugge, District Ranger, Inyo National Forest, Mammoth Ranger District, P.O. Box 148, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546.  To be most helpful comments should be received by April 21, 2008.

For more information contact Scott Kusumoto at the Mammoth Ranger Station, (760) 924-5522.