Pacific Southwest Region

Southern California Hazardous Fuels Rehabilitation and Restoration

Skyline Fuels Reduction Project

• San Bernardino National Forest
• USDA Forest Service TEAMS Enterprise Group

The Skyline Road Fuels Reduction Project will provide a fuel break that will help protect Big Bear Ski Area and the surrounding Moonridge and Big Bear communities in case of wildfire. These areas are both in and next to the San Bernardino National Forest, near Big Bear Lake.

Using FY2004 funding provided by Congress, the Forest Service has hired the Timber Experts and Measurement Service (TEAMS), to design and implement the project. The project will create the fuel break 50 to 150 feet wide by reducing vegetation on either side of the Skyline Ridge Road, or Forest Road N210. Most of the brush will be chipped and removed from the site, with some left on the ground for nutrients and soil erosion control, and some of the brush will be piled and burned. Some of the timber removed will be marketable.

Layout for the project is nearly complete, with removal of fuels scheduled to start in fall of 2004. The eight mile fuel break will take six months to complete.

The Skyline Ridge Road is a very popular destination for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Mountain bikers who use the road pointed out an indirect benefit of the project -- the clearing of areas on both sides of the road benefits people who have traditionally used this area for cross-country skiing, but in recent years have been overwhelmed by snowmobiles. "This project will create enough room for both user groups to enjoy the ridgetop," said one of the trail users.

For more information on this project, please contact Jim Totten, USFS TEAMS lead for the project, 559-359-8498.

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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