Devastating winter winds that blew down thousands of ponderosa, spruce, and fir trees in Colorado’s San Isabel National Forest could deliver a cash crop as the U.S. Forest Service hurriedly clears the downed trees ahead of the tourist season.
Barb Timmock, a spokeswoman for the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands in Pueblo, said a wide area was flattened by a freakish windstorm last November.
“You wouldn’t believe it,” she said. “Huge trees were snapped off 30 feet in the air.”
A pair of windstorms in the high country in November
The hardest hit areas include Lake Creek, Swift Creek, and South Colony Creek in Custer County, the Forest Service stated.
Starting June 1, commercial cutters and people who want to stock their fireplace wood pile, can learn more about locations, costs and other information by contacting the Salida Ranger Office at 325 W. Rainbow Blvd. in Salida or call 719-539-3591.
The Forest Service is rushing to clear debris from roads, trails and campgrounds — a “triage” mode of assessing which areas are the worst and need immediate attention. according to Ben Lara, a recreation staff officer for the Forest Service.
Salida District Ranger Bill Schuckert added, “As a result of the scope of the damage, we are working to meet local firewood cutters’ needs along with harvesting marketable trees for saw logs.”
Fuelwood programs to clear downed trees are available in all of the state’s national forests. To find out about the programs, contact the forests’ respective offices for information, or t.
