WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest plans to host an additional public meeting later this month to provide information and seek input and comments on a proposed project to reduce the threat of uncharacteristic, high-intensity wildfire and to restore the structure, species composition and function of ecosystems on the Kaibab Plateau.

This will be the third in a series of public meetings for the proposed Kaibab Plateau Ecological Restoration Project on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. The meeting is scheduled for November 27 from 9:30 a.m. to noon in Flagstaff. There will be a brief overview presentation starting at 9:30 a.m. followed by an opportunity for in-depth group discussion and questions. All interested members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Those planning to attend the November 27 session in Flagstaff should RSVP to Sue Farley, environmental coordinator for the Kaibab National Forest, at 928-635-8331 or sfarley@fs.fed.us. A confirmation, directions and additional background information will then be provided to those who respond.

The Kaibab National Forest has been hosting this series of public meetings in order to provide information and seek comments on the Kaibab Plateau Ecological Restoration Project. The project is designed to increase resiliency and overall health of vegetation and watersheds and to restore low-intensity fire to the fire-adapted ecosystems of the area. Specifically, the proposed action includes prescribed fire and non-commercial, mechanical vegetation treatments on about 511,000 acres of the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

Most of the Kaibab National Forest’s vegetation is adapted to recurring wildfires, and fire naturally plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health. The condition and structure of the project area’s forests, woodlands, shrublands and grasslands have changed dramatically from natural conditions, in large part because fire has been excluded due to decades of successful fire suppression efforts. Today, the project area contains uncharacteristically dense forests with many more young trees than were present historically, and climate change is making them vulnerable to more frequent high-intensity wildfires.

The project is intended to address those changed conditions by implementing prescribed fire and non-commercial, mechanical vegetation treatments. Prescribed fire would include broadcast burning and pile burning to reduce fuel levels and tree densities, control conifer regeneration, and promote understory plant vigor. Mechanical treatments would include pruning ladder fuels, mastication, chipping and thinning to remove smaller trees with the goal of protecting larger or older trees by targeting understory and ladder fuels.

For detailed project information, including the full proposed action document, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54226. For questions or to RSVP to the November 27 public meeting in Flagstaff, please contact Farley at 928-635-8331 or sfarley@fs.fed.us.