The National Park Service Wildland Urban Interface Initiative (WUII) is designed to decrease wildfire hazard in areas where urban environments adjoin wildland areas. Over the past several years, there has been an accumulation of downed limbs, trees, and brush in many locations along the Natchez Trace Parkway. This material has become “hazardous fuel," capable of supporting wildfires. Since the Parkway boundary is adjacent to non-federal lands, both developed and undeveloped, the threat of private property loss from a wildland fire is potentially great. In order to provide adequate defensible firefighting space and to aid in the prevention of wildfire, the Natchez Trace Parkway will be working to remove hazard fuels at the following locations:
Project Name
Acres
State
County
Milepost
McGlamerys Stand
115
Tennessee
Wayne
351-353.4
Rhodesville
52
Alabama
Lauderdale
334-335.5
Ridgeland-Rice and Canton Rd East
50
Mississippi
Madison
103.6-104.8
From April through July, dead woody debris on the forest floor will be removed. During this time, expect to see contracting crews working in the forest along the Parkway. Gathered debris may be piled in the mowline of the Parkway while crews are working. No live vegetation will be removed.
Mechanical hazard fuel reduction is an especially important method to protect Parkway natural and cultural resources, protect adjacent private landholdings, and to provide a safe and aesthetically-pleasing environment to Parkway visitors. This project is addressed by the Parkway’s General Management and Natural Resource Management Plans.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
