Editor's Note: Carson National Forest just approved the post-fire recovery plan for the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and Luna Fire on the 24,240 acres that burned on the Carson in 2020 (Luna) and 2022 (Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon). La Jicarita reviewed the Draft Environmental Assessment for the plan in the August 18, 2023 issue. Carson Public Affairs Officer Zach Behrens issued a press release on October 30 with information about what is planned and alerts about solicitations for contractors. Links to the Environmental Assessment and other documents are included.
Here are some photos I took in August on FR 161 to the Serpent Lake Trailhead near Angostura that show some of the regeneration and the work that needs to be done.
PRESS RELEASE:
Media Contact: Zach Behrens
(575)758-6303 zachary.behrens@usda.gov
Post-Fire Recovery Project in Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon and Luna Fire Burn Areas Approved
TAOS, NM, Oct. 30, 2023–Acting Forest Supervisor Jack Lewis signed the decision notice for the Carson National Forest's Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon and Luna Post-Fire Recovery Project today. The approval of the environmental assessment clears the way for work to begin within 24,420acres split between the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire and 2020 Luna Fire burn areas.
Most immediately, staff this morning released a solicitation for quotes on a service contract for salvaging fire-killed and hazard trees, among other activities. The wood will be delivered to a Mora County site, where county staff and partners will manage processing and distributing it as fuelwood and other forest products important to Mora and San Miguel county residents for their recovery from the devasting impacts of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire.
"I've been listening to affected communities about what we can do on Forest Service land to meet their needs in post-fire recovery," said Camino Real District Ranger Michael Lujan. "I'm excited that the environmental analysis and planning is done so we can get to work and serve the people."
Forest planners streamlined administrative procedures using provisions from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law while complying with the National Environmental Policy Act. The law enhances the Forest Service's ability to work with communities and partners to address certain emergency situations by accelerating planning in some post-fire recovery areas and high-risk firesheds addressed in the Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon and Luna burn areas meet both situations.
The project's main purposes are to
• stabilize fire-affected watersheds,
• support recovery efforts related to the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, including economic r recovery,
• and address increased dead fuel accumulations within the burn areas, which increases the risk to insect and disease outbreaks and the risk of wildfire to visitors and nearby communities
Forest staff will make progress towards these goals through
• reforestation,
• removal of fuels, including forest products like personal fuelwood, latillas and vigas,
• and additional efforts, including post-wildfire hillslope stabilization treatments, post-wildfire channel treatments and hydraulic capacity improvements and protection of water infrastructure. As part of removing fuels, some pile burning is anticipated to remove unwanted slash. Fire crews would conduct ignitions in strict adherence to USDA Forest Service National Prescribed Fire Learning Review, which was initiated in response to the cause of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire (the Luna Fire was caused by an abandoned campfire). The environmental assessment and related documents are available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/carson/?project=64254.
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