Three Peaks improves fire protection by restoring rangeland
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CEDAR CITY, Utah – In order to improve fire safety, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will mechanically remove approximately 307 acres of invasive pinyon and juniper trees in the Three Peaks Recreation Area, starting April 1, protecting homes in nearby Cedar City, Enoch, and other neighboring communities.
The invasive trees increase wildfire risks to nearby homes and buildings, along with the facilities in the recreation area managed by the BLM and Iron County.
This is the Color Country District’s second phase of a multi-year effort to restore rangeland west of Cedar City and the Cedar Valley Estates Subdivision. Additionally, land managers designed the project to improve watershed conditions.
“By removing encroaching pinyon and juniper trees, favorable shrubs and grasses will return to the site, increasing rangeland productivity,” said Melanie Mendenhall, a BLM natural resource specialist. The anticipated completion date of this project is this summer.
Landscape restoration projects like these, are supported and funded by Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative, a variety of private, state, and federal cooperators, including Mule Deer Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Safari Club International, Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
While the projects are in progress, visitors to the recreation area must adhere to safety signs surrounding the treatment area. For more information call Christian Venhuizen at 435-994-9353. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question for the above individual. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.