Pacific Southwest Region

Southern California Hazardous Fuels Rehabilitation and Restoration

Laguna Mountain Community Protection

• Cleveland National Forest

The Cleveland National Forest implemented an ambitious program of hazard fuels reduction in the community of Laguna Mountain in 2004. Six years of record drought, insects and forest pathogens had created an immense build-up of fuels. The community of 250 cabins, homes, businesses and campgrounds in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area was at significant risk from wildland fire. The community of Laguna Mountain in eastern San Diego County had narrowly escaped the devastating Pines Fire in 2002 and the Cedar Fire in 2003.

The Descanso Ranger District, Laguna Mountain Fire Safe Council, and Mount Laguna Improvement Association (an association of home and property owners) joined forces to remove dead trees and brush and create defensible space around all structures and developed recreation sites. The partnership of the Forest Service and home and business owners treated both National Forest System and private lands to comply with the San Diego County 100-foot defensible space zoning ordinance.

The environmental planning for this project, which began in 2003 and concluded in 2004, took advantage of the categorical exclusion tools provided under the Healthy Forest Initiative. Funding for the work on private land came from a community protection grant awarded to the Laguna Mountain Fire Safe Council. Project work began in June and was completed in November of 2004. This project is linked to other fuels projects on Laguna Mountain identified in the district's five-year fuels plan.

Contact:

• Joan Wynn, Public Affairs Officer, (858) 674-2984
• Chris Anderson, Descanso Ranger District, (619) 445-7288 ext. 32

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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