The Fort Valley portion of the base of the San Francisco Peaks is important for wildlife migration and movement between the Peaks and general forest zone to the west. At the same time, this important corridor for wildlife movement is threatened by potential stand replacement wildfire. A series of wildlife corridors were designed along drainages and across ridges where numerous wildlife trails now exist. Corridors are also designed to incorporate experimental control areas that will remain uncut. As the prevailing direction of wildfire is from southwest to northeast, care has been taken to leave sufficient numbers of corridors perpendicular to the main direction of wildfire. These corridors will not be thinned but will be broadcast burned (except experimental control areas). It is estimated that approximately 10% of the Fort Valley block will be retained in wildlife movement corridors.

Back to The Fort Valley Restoration Project.