The U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service are scheduled to receive $859,000 to clear overgrown vegetation on public and private land in the Fourmile area northwest of Pagosa Springs.

The project is among 15 nationwide to be funded under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2014 Farm Bill.

A reduction in the amount of potential fuel for wildfires increases the overall health and resiliency of forests.

The division of the funding among the two agencies:

The Forest Service will get $611,000 to thin about 940 acres of national forest to protect natural resources and human uses from wildfires. Specifically, the project will benefit the Dutton Pipeline and the Dutton Ditch, which run through the area.

“This work will assist the community in affecting an important landscape in the Pagosa Ranger District,” said District Ranger Kevin Khung.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is in line for $248,500 to thin about 150 acres of private land adjacent to the national forest. The private holdings are in the Hidden Valley Ranch and Eagle Peak Ranch subdivisions and large ranches in the area.

“By working across public and private boundaries, we can help create resilient forests and support healthy watersheds,” said Jerry Archuleta, the Natural Resources Conservation Service district director.

The two projects will thin small trees, shrubs and decadent aspen. Overall, the work meshes with the reduction of hazardous forest fuels in nearby areas.

Examples of the latter are the removal of biomass on 160 acres of federal land and 450 acres of private property.

daler@durangoherald.com