San Juan National Forest Columbine Ranger District will conduct a thinning project in the Junction Creek area beginning Saturday and continuing throughout the field season.
The project will be in the vicinity of the Log Chutes 2 Trail. This project will thin suppressed, small diameter ponderosa pine trees to improve the health of remaining trees. It will also reduce fire hazard by breaking up the horizontal continuity of the forest canopy where fire can easily spread.
In support of these efforts, more traffic will be using the Junction Creek Road (NFSR 171). Operations will be ongoing until project completion. Signs will be placed in all areas where workers are thinning. Visitors should expect increased activity and equipment in the area. Extreme caution should be exercised around all equipment and along roads and trails. Visitors should pay attention to and obey all trail and road traffic signs when traveling in or near this area.
Southwest Conservation Corps recently completed a separate 20 acre thinning project near Log Chutes Parking Area. Public fuelwood has been decked and stacked along Junction Creek Road. The public is welcome to collect the fuelwood but must purchase fuelwood permits, have them on hand at all times, and have them presented on the truck load when departing the area.
For information in fuelwood permits, visit www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/passes-permits/forestproducts.
For more information on the project, contact Lauren Domnik at 884-1434.
