Pacific Southwest Region

Southern California Hazardous Fuels Rehabilitation and Restoration

Crystal Lake Forest Health Project

• Angeles National Forest

Crystal Lake is a popular recreation area nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Glendora, CA. In the fall of 2002, the Curve Fire burned over 20,000 acres in the area, killing trees and closing the campground and other facilities indefinitely.

Assistant Resource Officer Jamahl Butler of the San Gabriel River Ranger District has been using Hazardous Fuels dollars to remove dead trees from the site and restore ecosystem health. "It's basically a high elevation, mixed conifer stand," said Butler.

In Phase I of the project, contractors have removed dozens of dead trees -- those killed in the fire and some that were already dead from bark beetle infestation. The stumps have been covered with Sporax to prevent Annosus root disease while the highly flammable logging slash was chipped and returned to the forest floor. "Some cut limbs are scattered in the area," said Butler, "so that campers can use it for firewood once it reopens."

Phase II will include fuels reduction work for fire prevention as well as selective thinning for forest health reasons. "There's very little natural pine regeneration," explains Butler. "Fuels reduction work and thinning will open the canopy to reduce competition and encourage new growth." Phase II will also include pruning or completely removing trees infested with the parasite Dwarf Mistletoe. The District hopes to complete all work by summer 2005.

The project site is located within the district of Congressman David Dreier. It is part of the larger Angeles Fuels Management Program, which includes work around other recreation sites and in areas that border communities. The District Ranger for the San Gabriel River R.D. is Marty Dumpis.

For more information on the Crystal Lake Project, please contact Jamahl Butler at 626-335-1251 or Stanton Florea at 626-574-5213.

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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