Forest Service and MDF Join Forces on Habitat Projects and Wildfire Crisis work!
First Published July 8th by USFS By: John Scaggs
Wildfire and Mule Deer:
Following a keystone agreement on September 2023, the Tonto National Forest and the Mule Deer Foundation committed to restoring 1000 acres of landscape through lop and scatter-type projects, a significant step towards environmental restoration. Additionally, the two groups dedicated to restoring 2314 acres in the mastication of grassland habitat projects within the Tonto Globe Ranger District adjacent to the San Carlos reservation.
The difference between these types of projects is, in a lop and scatter project, Mule Deer Foundation, and Forest Service contractors, trim and scatter branches to open up the canopy. In a mastication project, imagine a large mulching device being run through an area with the intent of creating grasslands.
Work began in November 2023 useing mechanical handling techniques, such as chainsaws, to lop and scatter 1000 acres. San Carlos Apache Tribe Reserve Treaty Rights Land crews cut off branches from juniper woodland. Before scattering them across the grassland area in preparation for future prescribed burns. Crews completed this portion in December 2023 within the highway tanks area.
Highway tanks is a local cross-boundary initiative between the national forest and the San Carlos Apache tribe. It falls under the overarching San Carlos Apache tribal forest protection landscape. This large-scale landscape project involves the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coronado, Tonto National Forests, and San Carlos Apache tribal lands.
Mastication began in June 2024, involving various equipment to grind, chip, or break part brush and small woodland tree species. The completion time for the section is September 2024.
The Forest Service and Mule Deer Foundation are prepared for a second Keystone agreement to continue these restoration efforts. Tonto officials ultimately plan to treat over 10,000 acres through collaboration and support of partners like the Mule Deer Foundation.
Using funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Forest Service can enter into Keystone agreements with partners for projects. These projects reduce the risk of wildfires to communities and critical infrastructure, restore ecosystems, and rapidly implement state, private, and trial forestry projects.
Good Luck!
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Trevor J Hubbs https://www.instagram.com/trevorhubbs/
Trevor is the Communications Manager for the Mule Deer Foundation. He grew up hunting and fishing the eastern edge of the Ozark mountains for quail, ducks, and bucks. Trevor is a contributor for “Fur, Fish, and Game”, Lethal Minds Journal, Strung Magazine, and Feathers and Whiskey, among others.
