Wildfire risk-reduction grants awarded
These Southwest Colorado entities received Colorado Wildfire Risk Reduction grants, totaling about $320,000, through the Colorado Department of Natural Resources:
Forest Lakes Metro District received funding for the purchase of an air-curtain burner and attachment to generate power. For more information, call Dale Kortz at 884-2953.
Montezuma County Chiefs Association received funding to start a mitigation program for low-income residents. For more information, call Becca Samulski at 564-4007.
FireWise of Southwest Colorado – Archuleta County Chapter received funding for a slash-removal program. For more information, call Bill Trimarco at 264-0430.
Timberdale Ranch Property Owners Association received funding to purchase a brush hog or similar equipment to help reduce fuels within the subdivision. For more information, call Jim Tencza at 884-0885.
Funding for these grants was made possible through a one-time budget amendment of $10.3 million to the state budget in 2013. The Colorado Forest Restoration Institute will monitor the projects awarded.
Management plan for public lands released
The San Juan National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Tres Rios Field Office has released a joint Land and Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement to address long-term management of 2.4 million acres of national forest and BLM lands in southwestern Colorado, and an additional 700,000 acres of federal minerals.
The plan will guide the management of 1.8 million acres of national forest lands in Southwest Colorado. Some of the issues addressed in the plan include maintaining functional wildlife habitat, managing lands with wilderness characteristics, establishing standards and guidelines for energy and mineral development and other uses, managing special areas such as wild and scenic rivers and areas of critical environmental concern, transportation and protecting air and water quality.
The documents are available at www.fs.usda.gov/main/sanjuan/landmanagement/planning. Electronic versions are available on CD by calling the San Juan Public Lands Center at 247-4874.
Aztec Ruins to offer free admission Saturday
As part of National Public Lands Day, Aztec Ruins National Monument will offer free admission from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and discounts in the bookstore.
For more information, visit www.publiclandsday.org, call (505) 334-6174, or visit nps.gov/azru.
Local cattle ranchers feed U.S. troops
Local cattle ranchers Wayne and Patti Buck of Ignacio helped feed troops at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs.
They volunteered with fellow ag industry leaders as part of the organization All American Beef Battalion, which visits bases around the country to serve meals.
At Fort Carson, a group of 60 to 70 served a steak meal to 5,000 troops and their families to thank them for their service.
For more information, visit www.steaksfortroops.com.
Film to be shown as a fundraiser
The Center for Snow & Avalanche Studies and Fort Lewis College will present the award-winning film “Chasing Ice” at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at FLC.
Tickets to the film are $20 for adults and $10 for kids and students. The film is rated PG-13 for brief, strong language. Proceeds will benefit the Center for Snow & Avalanche studies, a local nonprofit organization.
For more information, visit www.snowstudies.org or call 387-5080.
Herald Staff
