Contractors plan to begin work on the Ruth Fire Mastication Project on the Bradshaw Ranger District. Heavy equipment will be used to thin approximately 1,526 acres on the east and west sides of Ponderosa Park Road.
No area or road closures are expected; however, we ask the public to avoid the project areas when equipment is operating. Approaching such equipment is very dangerous as the operator may not see you. We recommend that the public stay back 300 feet from operating equipment.
Special mitigations will be implemented to minimize impacts to the newly constructed Gravity Flow trail system, including limited crossings and operations during dry weather conditions.
Mechanical thinning has proven to be an effective restoration and management tool. These treatments are being carried out as site preparation for planned planting projects to restore ponderosa pine following historic wildfires in the area. Completion of this project will improve the health and resiliency of fire-adapted ecosystems while simultaneously restoring watersheds, rangelands, and wildlife habitat, and reducing hazardous fuels that pose a threat to life and property in the wildland-urban interface.
