West Range Reclamation completed a fuels reduction/timber stand improvement project for the Colorado State Forest Service - Boulder District during the summer of 2006. The 54 acre project existed in two separate treatment units on private and BLM land in Boulder County, Colorado. The units were surrounded by private property with treatment occurring as close as 75 feet from homes. The goal of the project was to complete fuels reduction for the benefit of forest health and community wildfire protection.
The contractor used a rubber tired Barko 930 hydro-axe tractor with a Fecon Bullhog 250 horizontal rotary drumhead. The machinery was effective on slopes up to 40% in a mix of dog hair ponderosa pine, dense mixed conifer, severe dwarf mistletoe, and areas with a great deal of exposed rock. The machinery would essentially cut large diameter trees in half, then masticate the entire tree into pieces not much larger than that of a conventional chipper. In some areas, there was a minimal amount of larger pieces left on the ground that were up to two feet long and 3 inches in diameter. The machinery is not much louder than a chipper, is surprisingly light on the land for its size, and typically doesn't throw many chunks out more than 10 feet from the base of the tree (although some larger trees have had small chunks thrown over 50 feet directly in front and behind the machine).
A few weeks after the project there was little evidence of the size of the machinery operating on the sites, other than leftover chips and mastication chunks. Some steep or extremely rocky areas required simultaneous saw work, although this is appeared to be a very minor aspect of the project. Most of the treated land looks like it was done by chainsaw with all of the slash being chipped on site.
West Range Reclamation completed the project in a timely and professional manner. The contractor went beyond the expectations and required scope work for the project. The contractor was very easy to work with, and proved to be flexible during implementation as the project's obstacles arose. The nearby landowners and I are very satisfied with the final result of the project.
The two projects completed by the contractor were done for a fair cost, far below that of the same level of work done by chainsaw, personnel labor, and a chipper. The rate at which the mastication machinery progressed on the project was easily four of more times the rate of a standard hand crew. Depending on the density and slope, the solo Barko Mulcher worked at a rate of two to five acres per day.
My relations with Cody Neff and the staff of West Range Reclamation were very positive and I would look to solicit this contractor for any applicable projects in the future. I recommend the use of this contractor and machinery for any similar forestry project.
Sincerely,
Bob Bundy
Fuels Treatment Partnership & Wildfire Mitigation Forester
Colorado State Forest Service - Boulder District
5625 Ute Highway; Longmont, CO 80503
