Public meeting scheduled for timber salvage projects on Conejos Peak Ranger District

Courtesy Photo

LA JARA— The Rio Grande National Forest is inviting input on five proposed timber salvage projects on the Conejos Peak Ranger District. All five of the projects implement the previously approved CP District-Wide Salvage Project.


The implementation projects include:
• Klondike – 226 acres, located northwest of Platoro reservoir.
• Greyback – Up to 806 acres, located northwest of Summitville.
• Grouse – Up to 716 acres, located between Jarosa peak and State Highway 17.
• Elwood – Up to 815 acres, located on Prospect Mountain.
• Hunt Camp – Up to 157 acres, located in the Spruce Hole area along NFSR 107.


These individual salvage projects tiered to the overarching CP District-Wide Salvage Project go through another round of review by resource specialists.  The public is invited to provide input at an upcoming meeting. The public meeting to discuss these projects is on Tuesday, July 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Conejos Peak Ranger District office, 15571 County Road T5, La Jara.


Conejos Peak District Ranger Andrea Jones approved the CP District-wide Salvage Project in August of 2018. More than 330,000 acres were included in the analysis area on the west side of the district. The decision allows up to 14,000 acres of dead and dying spruce trees to be salvaged over a 10-year period for commercial use, as well as thinning trees near private land to protect structures from wildland fire while protecting important wildlife habitat.


Surveys will be conducted the first and third year after areas are harvested to determine stocking levels of the remaining trees. Tree seedlings grown from locally collected seed sources will be planted in those areas determined to not be adequately stocked.


Maps and specialists reports for each proposed salvage project will be available on the project website under the post-decision tab at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48818.
For more information, contact Vincent DuPont at the Conejos Peak Ranger District Office at 719-274-8971.