Tribe-USFS agree to thin Wrights Lake area

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Eldorado National Forest have signed a five-year agreement to work cooperatively on the Wrights Lake Fuels Reduction Project.

This project will improve fire safety in a popular recreation area with heavily used trails, a developed campground, lake access for boating, and 75 privately owned cabins under special use permits on Forest Service land. It also supports a tribal job training and development program.

Under the agreement, the USFS will provide $252,000 to the tribe for 160 days of fuel reduction work. The work is located along roads and near structures. It will include cutting, piling, chipping, and decking dead down trees, understory trees, brush and existing slash.

The Wrights Lake Fuel Reduction Project is part of the cohesive wildland fire management strategy for the South Fork American River watershed. Work has begun and will continue throughout the fall and into next spring.