Silver City, NM - Forest restoration thinning work begins on Monday, November 12, in the Meadow Creek area (Silver City Ranger District, Gila National Forest) near Silver City, NM, and is scheduled to end the following Wednesday, November 21.  The project area begins at the junction of NM Highway 15 and Meadow Creek Road, and continues east on both sides of the Meadow Creek Road for approximately one mile. Approximately 135 acres are scheduled for treatment.  Motorists and forest users should anticipate encountering logging trucks and equipment on NM Highway 15, on Forest Service roads, and in the area during this time.  

The project will use mechanized equipment for the thinning treatments, so forest users are encouraged to use caution when in the area and to expect dust, an increase in truck traffic, and possible travel delays.  The increased truck traffic will include large logging trucks and trailers that require a wide turning radius to navigate narrow winding roads and curves.  Forest users are urged to slow down and to be especially careful when approaching blind turns. 

Some dispersed campsites in the area of Meadow Creek will be inaccessible due to restoration thinning operations.  Alternate dispersed campsites in the vicinity include the Signal Peak, Sheep Corral and Pine Flats areas.

This forest restoration thinning project is designed to reduce the amount of closed tree canopy in the area and to improve forest health and resilience to natural disturbances such as insects, diseases, and fire.  It will also enhance wildlife habitat and maintain watershed conditions.  Reducing the amount of excess fuels creates a more defensible location for firefighting efforts, should a wildfire occur in the area.

For more information on this forest restoration project please contact Silver City Ranger District Fire Prevention Technician Keith Matthes at (575) 388-8263.