Aerial mulching will cover 881 acres in High Park burn area

Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) implementation on National Forest System lands within the High Park Fire burn area has been taking place on roads and trails. As soon as the week of Sept. 16, aerial mulching could begin.

Work to date has included erosion control and hazard tree removal along trails and roads. Places being treated with aerial mulching this fall include high priority areas of high and moderate soil burn severity on slopes between 20 percent and 60 percent. Fall mulching will take place on 881 acres with wood shreds. It is estimated fall aerial mulching will take approximately 20 to 30 days to complete.

Additional mulching on nearly 5,000 acres with straw is expected in the late spring or early summer. Mulching helps stabilize burned hills and reduce erosion in these areas. No treatment is taking place in the Cache la Poudre Wilderness.

Other proposed work will continue as conditions allow, including noxious weed monitoring and treatment, additional erosion control and hazardous tree removal along roads and trails, trail stabilization, and protection of archeological sites. Volunteers have helped the Canyon Lakes Ranger District open some trails in the burn area.

Adjacent landowners have been made aware of the aerial mulching planned. There is a 300 foot buffer next to private land; however, some mulch could land on private land.

The public and residents are asked to remain vigilant of safety concerns during aerial treatment. The closure order for the High Park Fire burn area is still in place, due to both rehabilitation efforts and general safety concerns.

Please continue to check http://inciweb.org/incident/2904/ for the latest information on BAER activities.