The following examples show the before and after pictures where mastication and chipping methods were used to reduce fire fuel load. (Click on any image to see a larger view.)

Ben Taylor

In these two images, you can see where mastication was done (above the road, in the upper left of the pictures), and hand clearing and chipping were done in the right-of-way.

Trees with lots of underbrush next to a road.

Ben Taylor: before

Trees without the underbrush, and with a gentler slope next to a road.

Ben Taylor: after

The next two images show an area of dense fir and oak above Ben Taylor. After mastication, each tree trunk is identifiable.

Trees with lots of underbrush on a hill.

Dense fir and oak stand: before

Trees without the underbrush, where the terrain is clearly visible.

Dense fir and oak stand: after

Project Area

The left side of this image, with the green undergrowth, is how the area looked before mastication. After mastication, tree trunks are clearly distinguishable as is the terrain around them.

Mixed conifer-oak forest: before and after

In the middle-right of this picture, the area before mastication has low bushes and undergrowth reaching into the tree limbs. On the left, after mastication, the fire fuel load has been significantly decreased.

Bushy, green undergrowth where not treated; wood chips and relatively clear area where treated.

Manzanita-fir-oak brush: before and after