One of the Land Trust's key goals for Paulina Creek Preserve is to restore the forests at the Preserve to improve forest health and reduce the risk of fire danger. Paulina Creek Preserve has 578 acres of predominately ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine forests.
Past forest management at the Preserve, including fire suppression and a lack of active thinning, has changed the character of the forest over time. Tree composition has shifted to favor the shorter-lived and more fire-prone lodgepole pine with fewer older ponderosa pines that are important to wildlife.
This fall or winter (depending on conditions) we will start our forest restoration efforts by thinning the dense forest near the southern border of the Preserve. The goal will be to thin lodgepole pine to favor ponderosa pine, and retain a mosaic of lodgepole thickets for wildlife shelter and cover. In the process, we will also create a fuel break for neighboring homes.
The thinning will be completed using machinery that cuts and gathers trees, and then hauls them to existing landings/staging areas. Eventually, the thinned trees will be used in the restoration of Paulina Creek to provide habitat for fish and wildlife. Anytime the Land Trust completes forest restoration, we strive to ensure that overall disturbance on the land is limited, and that soils and plants in the thinned areas are protected as much as possible.
We encourage you to join us for a guided walk after the thinning is complete to learn more about the restoration. We appreciate your patience as we work to build a new Preserve for the future!
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