Pile burning planned on the Rio Grande National Forest
- Created: 13 November 2017 13 November 2017
MONTE VISTA, Colo., November 13, 2017 – The Rio Grande National Forest plans to burn numerous piles of woody debris in timber sale and thinning projects areas on the Rio Grande National Forest this winter. The burn areas include:
· Belle Timber Sale - 29 large machine piles, Upper Rio Grande west of Creede
· Mater Timber Sale – 53 large machine piles, Upper Rio Grande west of Creede
· Black Mesa Timber Sale - 500 large machine piles, Upper Rio Grande west of Creede
· Black Mountain Ranch – 75 hand piles, Upper Rio Grande west of Creede
· Wolf Beetle Timber Sale – 5 large machine piles, Cumbres Pass area
· Conejos Canyon WUI – 400 hand piles, Conejos Canyon below Horca
· Mallard/Teal Timber Sale – 12 large machine piles, west of Saguache near Cochetopa Pass
These burns will take several days to complete in each project area and smoke will be visible from roads in the area. Signs warning motorist of prescribed burning activity will be placed along roads near these project areas.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
For more information, contact the Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor’s Office at 719-852-5941.
Upper Gunnison Basin Watershed Management Planning meeting
- Created: 08 November 2017 08 November 2017
Greetings Friends of the Lake Fork!
Be part of the conservation! Join us for our initial informational meeting on the Upper Gunnison Basin Watershed Management Planning Process, Monday November 13, 5:30 pm, at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. Be sure to check out the great teaser video as well on the UGRWCD website (www.ugrwcd.org). You can also find the meeting agenda there as well.
This is only the begining of a five year effort to plan for our future water use and watershed health in the Basin. We will be holding local meetings and activities during the ensuing year.
Hope to see you Monday or at subsequent events! Please feel free to contact me for additional information. Phone 970-944-5382 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Camille Richard
Wolf Creek Ski Area Meadow Lift Development Project approved
- Created: 06 November 2017 06 November 2017
CREEDE, Colo., November 6, 2007 – Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor Dan Dallas recently signed a decision notice approving the Wolf Creek Ski Area Meadow Lift Development Project. The project will occur within the Wolf Creek Ski Area special use permit boundary on the Rio Grande National Forest.
The Meadow Lift will be approximately 2,100 feet in length with eight towers and terminals. A 50 by 80 foot multi-use building will be constructed for storage during the summer and as a service area during the winter. Two sections of gravel road, totaling less than a quarter mile, will be constructed to access the lift for construction and maintenance. An underground powerline will be installed under an existing closed Forest Service road and new access road. Up to 50 acres may be cleared of trees and revegetated to provide open skiing terrain in the new Meadow Lift and existing Elma Lift areas.
Wolf Creek Ski Area’s 2012 Master Development Plan introduced the concept of the Meadow Lift for future development. Although the Rio Grande National Forest accepted the 2012 Master Development Plan, implementation of any project within Wolf Creek Ski Area’s special use permit area is contingent on site-specific environmental analysis.
Contact the Divide Ranger District for more information about the Meadow Lift Development Project at 719-657-3321.
Lake City DIRT website gets a face lift
- Created: 01 November 2017 01 November 2017
LAKE CITY, CO., (October 31, 2017): Thanks to funding from the Department of Local Affairs Colorado Main Street program, Lake City DIRT has been able to update our lakecitydirt.com website and make it available using all applications.
Design was completed by B4 Studio of Creede, Colorado. Check it out and let us know if you find missing information or have ideas for other helpful items.
Lake City DIRT oversees Hinsdale County’s Colorado Main Street program to improve economic vitality, support historic preservation and aesthetic improvements, and promote and celebrate community. The new site is still found at www.lakecitydirt.com
Rio Grande National Forest hosts four forest plan public meetings
- Created: 01 November 2017 01 November 2017
The public has until December 29 to review and comment on the proposed forest plan.
The forest plan guides all management decisions and activities on the Rio Grande National Forest.
MONTE VISTA, Colo., October 6, 2017—Rio Grande National Forest will hold four public meetings concerning the draft forest plan and environmental impact statement during the first two weeks of November. The doors will open 30 minutes before the meeting start time.
Representatives from the Forest will present an overview of the draft forest plan and environmental impact statement, and answer questions from the audience. Meeting participants will have an opportunity to review maps and have further discussions with Forest Service employees following the presentation.
The meetings are scheduled as follows:
- Wednesday. November 1 at the Creede Community Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 2 at the Rio Grande County Annex from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 8 at the Guadelupe Parish Hall in Conejos from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 9 at the Saguache Community Building 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The draft documents are available for review and comment online. The 90-day comment period began on Friday, September 29, 2017 and will end on Friday, December 29, 2017.
Comments may be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by fax to 719-852-6250; or in writing to Rio Grande National Forest, Attn: Forest Plan Revision, 1803 West U.S. Highway 160, Monte Vista, CO 81144.
For more information, visit the Rio Grande National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande or contact Erin Minks, Forest Planner, at 719-852-6215.