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LightfootTM Fuels Reduction and Restoration Before and After Photos
Gill Oak Restoration - English Hawthorne Control and Fuel Reduction

IRM masticated invasive hawthorne from around oaks in this savanna in Douglas County.  Resprouts were sprayed to achieve complete control of this noxious weed while reducing herbicide use compared to spraying of mature plants.  IRM is also implementing treatments to control annual invasive grasses and re-establish native bunchgrasses on this site.
 
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Pre - treatment view
 
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Post - treatment view
 
 
 
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fuels Reduction Project
 
IRM was hired to create a 25 acre fuel break within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in Sutherlin, Oregon.  The LightfootTM was mounted with the Fecon BullhogŪ to mow and masticate a field of English hawthorne which has invaded an old pasture.  The hawthorne measured up to 6" in DBH and over 15' tall.  Follow-up treatment included revegetation with native plant species.
 
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Pre - treatment view
 
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Post - treatment view
 
 
 
Bald Hill Park Oak Restoration, Corvallis, Oregon
 
In October 2003, the City of Corvallis, Parks and Recreation hired Integrated Resource Management in partnership with the Nature Conservancy to restore the oak woodlands at Bald Hill Park.  Treatments included:
  • Removed 11 acres of false brome, Armenian blackberry, and English hawthorne.
  • Thinned 8 acres of oaks to open woodland tree density.
  • Created 4 acres of wildlife wood piles.
  • Seeded approximately 6 acres with native grass and annual forbs.
  • Restored 4 acres of savanna density habitat to conditions favorable for associated bird species.
  • Tilled and seeded 6 burn piles to ameliorate soil degradation from burning brush and cut trees past treatments.
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Pre - treatment view of Bald Hill showing edge of meadow and dense oak woodland.
 
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Post - treatment view of Bald Hill after mechanical removal of hawthorne, and thinning of dense oaks.
 
 
Restoration focused on expanding these treatments with the objective of recreating savanna conditions to support home range habitats of open oak dependent species including acorn woodpecker, white-breasted woodpecker, and neo-tropical species including lazuli bunting, black-headed grosbeak, and Bullock's oriole.
 
IRM used two implements on its LightfootTM machine including the Fecon BullhogŪ to remove non-native species and competing understory brush; and the Tree Shear to thin and remove small diameter trees.  Removing the non-natives, competing brush and small trees, will provide better habitat and growing conditions for native oak populations.  Herbicides were used to eradicate non-native species.  These areas were then re-seeded with native grasses and forbs.
 
Brush mowing decreases the fire danger to the surrounding community, thereby creating a fire resilient ecosystem.  Prescribed burning will occur every 5 to 10 years to maintain a fire resilient ecosystem.
 
 
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LightfootTM can be transported anywhere.
 
 
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LightfootTM can brush mow noxious weeds without causing site disturbance.
 
 
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IRM operators clean the LightfootTM after every job to avoid the spreading of noxious weeds.
 
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