Protecting Aspen

The Peaks and Mormon Lake Ranger Districts have about 34 aspen fences. These fences are designed to keep elk, deer, and cows out of the aspen. Many of these fences encompass stands in lower elevation areas and are isolated populations.

Aspen stands across the forest have been in a gradual state of decline over the past 50 years due to fire suppression and extreme browsing pressure from elk. In early June of 1999 there was a frost event that resulted in the defoliation of many of the aspen stands across the forest. As a result many stands experienced high mortality and reduced vigor of the remaining trees. This frost event along with elk eating up all the aspen sprouts means that with out help that many aspen stands will die.



On the West side of the San Francisco Peaks there is a 35 acre aspen fence that has been there since 1988. Over the years, trees have fallen on the fence, people have cut the fence, and elk have damaged the fence. The fence was down in at least seven different spots. The elk were getting into the area eating the sprouts, and rubbing their antlers on the larger saplings, which often kills the trees.

On May 24 and 25 my co-worker Patty, organized a large fence repair party, and fortunately lots of people showed up. We had volunteers from Outdoor Arizona, the district range crew, the recreation crew, a fire engine crew, and a research crew.

It was a lot of work, but we got the fence back up and fortified some weak areas, and cut down snags that could fall on the fence.