USFS planning thinning project near Upper Echo Lakes

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is seeking public input on the Upper Echo Lakes Hazardous Fuels Reduction project. The proposed action includes tree thinning and surface fuels reduction that is intended to reduce the risk of wildfire and improve firefighting effectiveness.

The project area is located on National Forest land within the wildland urban interface on approximately 100 acres at Upper Echo Lake in El Dorado County, with a portion in the Pyramid Roadless area.

Brief closures of areas adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail are possible.

The proposed treatments would establish a defense zone around seasonal residence cabins and outbuildings. Cabin owners would retain the responsibility to maintain their defensible space improvements.

Fuel reduction work would consist of cutting and hand piling brush and conifer trees up to 16 inches in diameter. Vegetation would be cut by hand, with chainsaws or other hand tools. Piles would then be burned approximately one to three years later, once the fuels are dry and weather conditions allow for prescribed burning. Larger trees would be made available for fuelwood.

Work could begin as early as this fall and might take up to six years to complete, depending on funding and availability of burn days.

The public comment period ends on Aug. 15. Information is available at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisor’s office, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, or online.

For more information, contact Duncan Leao at (530) 543.2600 or email comments-pacificsouthwest-ltbmu@fs.fed.us using the subject: Upper Echo Lakes Fuel Reduction Project.