November 6, 2014 - SOUTH FORK, Colo

The Rio Grande National Forest’s Divide Ranger District is seeking public input on the Poage Lake Spruce Beetle Salvage Project environmental analysis. The proposed project would salvage up to 515 acres of dead and dying Engelmann spruce trees near Poage Lake, located 11 miles south of South Fork.

The primary objectives of the project are to salvage dead and dying spruce trees for commercial use; provide wood products to benefit the local and regional economy; improve safety in high use areas; and ensure the area is maintained with commercially valuable species for future wood production.

The proposed Poage Lake Spruce Beetle Salvage Project is located in an area designated in the Rio Grande National Forest Land Management Plan for production of commercial wood products. The project would salvage approximately six million board feet of Engelmann spruce and would include up to 1.5 miles of temporary road construction. Seedlings would be planted following salvage operations in areas that are not fully stocked with young trees.

Public input on this proposed project is most useful if received by December 8, 2014.

Written comments should be submitted to Poage Lake Spruce Beetle Salvage Project at: Divide Ranger District, 13308 W. Hwy 160, Del Norte, CO 81132. Comments may also be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or sent by facsimile to 719-657-6035. Additional information can be obtained by calling Kevin Duda at 719-657-6022 or at the Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/riogrande/landmanagement/projects.

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