Hazard tree removal starts in Tahoe portion of Caldor Fire

Mechanical hazard tree removal begins this week on 862 acres of National Forest System lands burned during the Caldor Fire off Pioneer Trail near South Lake Tahoe and on Echo Summit.

Project activities will also include planting of native trees in areas where hazard trees are removed, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The project is designed to reduce excess vegetation associated with remaining hazard trees and to stabilize and revegetate priority areas disturbed by fire suppression and initial hazard tree removal activities.

The Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has issued a temporary closure order in the project area for public safety. The temporary closure will be in effect during active fuels reduction operations which will likely take place 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, conditions and weather permitting. Once operations are suspended for the winter season, the area will be reopened to the public.

Cut material will be removed for biomass utilization, chipped or masticated on site, hand cut and piled for burning later, or used in some areas to stabilize soil. Native seedlings will be planted in areas where fire damaged tree stands are not likely to produce future trees and where needed to promote species diversity.