Los Alamos National Laboratory's Emergency Management division has recently begun a forest thinning project in Rendija Canyon. The initiative aims to protect the community from severe wildfires and improve the overall health of the forest. Known as the Rendija Canyon Wildland Fire Fuels Reduction and Defensible Space Project, it will establish a fuel break covering 135 acres next to Rendija Canyon Road.
This project will encompass various areas, including a powerline utility corridor, the Los Alamos Sportsmen's Club range area, and a section south of the archery range in the northern part of Barranca Mesa. Its main objective is to provide protection for the Los Alamos Sportsmen's Club and neighboring residents in Barranca Mesa. The strategy involves implementing a mosaic fuel break to reduce the intensity of potential wildfires by decreasing the available fuel for combustion.
Executive Adviser Jim Jones highlighted the importance of restoring the forest to its natural pattern. He emphasized the use of data and state-of-the-art technology to research and implement effective restoration methods. The mosaic fuel break strategy interrupts crown fires, preventing them from burning through treetops and forcing them to descend to the ground. This approach allows firefighters to establish defensible positions and effectively combat the wildfire.
Rich Nieto, the program manager of the Emergency Management Division, explained that the thinning process involves removing specific vegetation, brush, down woody material, and other accelerants in a mosaic pattern. This creates a more open landscape, reducing the heat intensity for firefighters and helping them establish anchor points to fight wildfires. By implementing this forest thinning initiative, Los Alamos National Laboratory's Emergency Management division is taking proactive measures to protect the community and preserve the health of the forest in Rendija Canyon.