Young farmers to meet Feb. 6-7
The 46th annual Colorado Young Farmers Educational Association Institute will be held Feb. 6 -7 in Loveland.
The state officers coordinating the two-day activities include Vice President Tyrell Williams of Ignacio.
During the institute, the delegates representing their respective chapters will elect officers for the 2015-16 year and conduct business pertaining to the association.
For more information, call Jack Annan at 521-6690.
Nature Studies announces programs
Durango Nature Studies will host these programs:
A snowshoe workshop called “Tassel-Eared Squirrels and Winter Habitat” will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Haviland Lake and Chris Park. The workshop is free for members and $10 for nonmembers. Snowshoes will be available for $3. Participants will learn about Abert’s squirrels from an expert, explore their habitat and learn about their adaptations.
Winter volunteer naturalist training will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 23. The training is free and includes a manual of natural history and activities. Volunteers will be trained to teach winter ecology to grades three to eight during February.
A snowshoe workshop called “Winter Ecosystems and the Snowpack” will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 24 at Haviland Lake and Chris Park. The workshop is free for members and $10 for nonmembers. Snowshoes will be available to rent for $3. Participants will learn how animals use the snowpack to survive during the winter.
A Nature Club is available to students in fourth to sixth grades at the Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County from 5 to 6:30 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month from Feb. 2 to May 18. The Nature Club is free for members and $10 per session for nonmembers. To register, call Jenn Bartlett at 375-0010.
For more information or to register, visit www.durangonaturestudies.org/wildwords.htm, email sally@durangonaturestudies.org or call 769-1800.
Winter Discovery Walk to be held in Mancos
San Juan Mountains Association and Colorado Parks and Wildlife naturalists will host a Winter Discovery Walk for Families from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at Mancos State Park.
If there is safe ice depth, the group will go out on the lake to learn about ice fishing and frozen-lake ecology.
Participants should meet at the pavilion near the entrance to the park. The program is open to families with children ages 4 and older.
Snowshoes for children are provided if needed. Adults who need snowshoes are required to register in advance.
To register, call 759-1170 or email gabi@sjma.org.
Comment sought on Chimney Rock plan
The San Juan National Forest is seeking public comments on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement that has been prepared for Chimney Rock National Monument.
The draft statement analyzes the development of a management plan for the monument as well as several specific projects within the monument.
Specific projects include approval of construction of as much as two miles of interpretive trails, new visitor facilities, parking areas and visitor shelters, as well as various prohibitions designed to minimize disturbance to peregrine falcons and prevent other resource damage.
The Pagosa Ranger District will host a public open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Pagosa Springs Community Center to offer information, answer questions and take comments.
For more information and documents, visit www.fs.usda.gov/projects/sanjuan/landmanagement/projects.
A Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register on Friday. Written, facsimile, hand-delivered and electronic comments will be accepted for 45 days – from Friday to March 2. When providing comments, specify if you are commenting on the management plan, the specific project proposals or both.
Written comments can be mailed to District Ranger, P.O. Box 310, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147, or hand-delivered to the Pagosa District Office, 180 Pagosa St. in Pagosa Springs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. Comments may be faxed to Attn. Sara Brinton at 264-1538 or emailed to comments-rocky-mountain-san-juan-pagosa@fs.fed.us.
For more information, call Paul Blackman or Sara Brinton at 264-2268, email plblackman@fs.fed.us or sbrinton@fs.fed.us.
Herald Staff
