San Isabel National Forest enhancement

On the Salida Ranger District of the San Isabel National, the Elk Foundation helped fund a project to maintain meadows and create forest openings on more than 600 acres of dense juniper and pinyon pine forest. Once maintained by fire, these openings are important to elk, deer and other wildlife. Since prescribed fire wasn't an ideal option, managers used a hydro-ax to mow and mulch shrubs and trees while causing little disturbance to the soil.

(Sep/Oct 2004) Tracking the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Bugle 21 (5) 23.