Lake George Area Vegetation Management EA, CO

CLIENT: US FOREST SERVICE

In collaboration with the South Park Ranger District of the Pike National Forest, EMPSi prepared an EA that analyzed a variety of vegetation treatments to improve forest health and resiliency to high-severity wildlife, insect infestations, and disease. The goals of the treatments were to restore low-severity fire, reduce fire intensity, reduce the risk of fire to the public, firefighters, and infrastructure, and increase the likelihood of fire suppression. The project area includes approximately 32,500 acres in Park and Teller Counties.

We prepared a combined Biological Assessment/Biological Evaluation to analyze the impacts of conducting forest health treatments on threatened and endangered species, including Canada lynx, Mexican spotted owl, and North American wolverine. Additionally, we prepared seven specialist reports for fire/fuels, watersheds and soils, heritage resources, recreation and infrastructure, roadless areas, socioeconomics and climate change, and vegetation and visual resources.

FAST FACTS:

• Included vegetation treatments to improve forest health and resiliency to high-severity wildfire, insect infestations, and disease

• Evaluated changes in wildfire and fuels conditions using fire behavior metrics generated from FlamMap

• Analyzed impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration, and climate change resiliency