On Saturday, May 31, the Orcas High School Key Club , Washington State University Extension Master Gardeners, Moran State Park and Firewise Communities joined forces in a work project at the top of Mount Constitution. Moran is a very special place within the San Juan Islands. It is more than 5,000 acres in size and contains Mount Constitution that rises 2,409 feet from sea level, the highest point in the San Juan Islands. I was part of the group, and we were intent on lowering the fuel volume adjacent to the parking lot near the summit of Mount Constitution should a wildfire occur in the park during the dry summer tourist season.

Our weather was glorious and the scenery, spectacular. Before we started working, Jim Schuh, the park ranger, pointed out the areas selected for mitigating and explained why they were chosen (because of high traffic on a trail or vulnerability of a structure). He then illustrated how to make the proper cuts on a limb to avoid damaging a tree. We set to work with enthusiasm and were delighted at the progress we made.

All of us remarked that it takes little time to greatly reduce the vulnerability of an area to wildfire. We concentrated on removing dead vegetation and low-hanging branches this time, and are talking about what we can do next time!