Pacific Southwest Region

Southern California Hazardous Fuels Rehabilitation and Restoration

Barton Flats Fuels Reduction Project

• San Bernardino National Forest

Barton Flats is a well known recreational area in the San Bernardino National Forest, located along Highway 38. With over 30 organizational camps, trails, Jenks Lake, and an outdoor amphitheater, the area is a popular weekend destination. Due to the high use of the Barton Flats area and Highway 38, there was concern for the amount of overstocking and high mortality in the area. The potential for wildfire was rated as very high.

To address this concern, the Forest Service, using FY2004 Congressionally appropriated dollars, began a massive evacuation route clearing and fuels reduction project around the Jenks Lake Loop. The goal was to clean out the dead trees and reduce ladder fuels (brush and small trees that can lead to a crown fire), thereby creating a more defensible space in case of wildfire.

The project started on this year on Memorial Day weekend. Over 1000 acres have been treated to date, with 2000 more acres to be treated by September of 2005. 95% of the trees being removed from the area are dead, and the remaining 5% that are living are removed only in thick stands. Over 2.5 million board feet of timber have been cut in this fuels reduction project, with approximately 5 million more to be removed throughout the life of the project.

The San Bernardino National Forest recognized this area as high priority because of the amount of use it gets on a daily basis. The Congressional earmarks given to the Forest Service have made this project and others like it possible, making our forests safer and healthier for the public.

For more information on this project please contact Ben Delvellar, Forest Restoration Officer, San Bernardino National Forest, 909-382-2600.

Success Stories

• Barton Flats
• Breaking Barriers
• Burn Area Restoration Projects
• Carveacre Community Protection
• Charlton Flats
• Crystal Lake
• Evacuation Route Clearing
• Forest Area Safety Taskforce
• Grant Successes
• June Aerial Flight Results
• Kuffel Canyon Road
• Laguna Mountain Community Protection
• Lake Arrowhead Log Storage Facility
• March Aerial Flight Results
• Mistletoe Eradication
• North Lake Arrowhead Fuels Reduction
• Seeds for Forest Renewal
• Skyline Fuels Reduction Project
• Student Conservation Association Partnership
• Take Pride in America

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