The Columbine Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest is soliciting

comments on a proposal to thin smaller ponderosa pine and mow/mulch Gambel
oak and other shrub species on approximately 899 acres of National Forest

land in the Junction Creek area to reduce the risk of destructive wildfire.

The project area is located approximately five miles north of Durango and

is bordered on the south and east by private land. The proposed

implementation date for the project would be summer of 2006.

	The proposed action involves thinning ponderosa pine to break up the

horizontal continuity of the forest canopy and take the first step toward

restoring the pre-settlement structure of the forest. The treatment would

also involve using mechanical equipment to mow dense Gambel oak in the

forest understory, remove ladder fuels, and treat the fuel loading in the

shrub layer.  The proposed action will change fire behavior, reduce the

rate of fire spread and intensity, and lower the probability of a

destructive wildfire occurring in the area.

	Approximately 3.25 miles of existing temporary roads would have to be

reopened and 1.95 miles of new temporary roads constructed to create access

for forestry and mowing equipment to the treatment areas. The project would

also require reopening of Forest Service roads Log Chutes 1 and 3 (5.6

miles). Any temporary access roads would be decommissioned (physically

closed, blocked with natural materials, drained and reseeded) at the

conclusion of the project.

For more information, or to submit your comments, please contact:
Craig K. Sullivan, Columbine Ranger District, 
PO Box 439, Bayfield CO 81122, (970)

884-1422, or FAX (970) 884-2428, 
or 
cksullivan@fs.fed.us

 by November 30, 2005. 
The Forest Service will consider all comments received to determine

the appropriate level of environmental documentation needed.

For Immediate Release:  March 3,2006

Input Sought on Proposed Forest Lakes 2 Fuels Reduction Project

The Columbine Field Office/Ranger District of the BLM/Forest Service is

accepting comments on a proposal to reduce hazardous fuels on approximately

550 acres of Forest Service, BLM, and State lands approximately 8 miles

north of Bayfield, Colorado, east of County Road 501 and north of the

Forest Lakes subdivision.

The proposal calls for thinning and mowing young ponderosa pine and white

fir trees as well as small amounts of Gambel oak. Some merchantable timber

products are likely to be removed over county roads through the

subdivision.  Temporary roads, not exceeding a mile in length, may be

constructed on the BLM in order to remove trees.  Temp roads will be

demolished and reclaimed upon project completion.  The entire project area

would be additionally treated in the future with prescribed fire in order

to maintain the benefits of the mechanical treatment and to promote forest

health.

The thinned and mowed areas will provide more effective barriers to the

rapid spread of wildfires, which will reduce risk to life, property, and

natural resources.  The project will have secondary benefits for wildlife

habitat and overall forest health.

Although the state section was logged in the late 1980’s, there is no

record and no distinct evidence that the BLM or Forest Service lands have

been altered by significant human disturbance.  If approved, the project

would be implemented in 2007.

For more information, or to submit input, please contact Beth Jones,

Columbine FO/RD, P.O. Box 439, Bayfield CO 81122, (970) 884-1426,

maryjones@fs.fed.us, by April 1st, 2006.

Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and

addresses of those who comment will be considered part of the public record

for this proposed action and will be available for public inspection. The

BLM/Forest Service will consider all comments received and issues generated

to determine the appropriate level of environmental documentation needed.

Ann Bond

Public Affairs Specialist

San Juan Public Lands Center

15 Burnett Court

Durango, CO 81301

970 385-1219

abond@fs.fed.us

May 20, 2006

DURANGO INTERAGENCY FIRE DISPATCH

U.S. Forest Service * Bureau of Land Management * National Park Service

Bureau of Indian Affairs * Colorado State Forest Service

 For Immediate Release: May 30, 2006

FIRE RESTRICTIONS TAKE EFFECT IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO

In cooperation with Montezuma County and other land management agencies,

fire restrictions will go into effect on Friday, June 2, in Zone 1, the

lower-elevation zone, of the San Juan Public Lands (San Juan National

Forest and Bureau of Land Management San Juan Field Office).

The restrictions will be Stage 1 restrictions which mean:

campfires are limited to permanent fire rings or grates within

        	developed campgrounds;

smoking is limited to vehicles, buildings, or 3-ft. wide areas

	cleared of vegetation;

chainsaws and other internal-combustion engines must have approved,

	working spark arresters;

	acetylene and other torches with an open flame may not be used; and,
	the use of explosives is prohibited.

By restricting campfires to campgrounds, fire managers hope to reduce the

risk of an escaped fire from a hot, untended campfire. Over the Memorial

Day weekend several unattended campfires were found. With the dry

conditions in our lower elevations and the high winds that the area

experienced, it's just sheer luck that we didn't have another big fire this

weekend,  according to Mark Lauer, Fire Management Officer for the San Juan

Public Lands.

The use of fireworks is prohibited on all Forest Service and BLM lands,

regardless of zone.

In 2003, fire managers divided the San Juan Public Lands, which include the

San Juan National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management-San Juan Center,

into two zones, Zone 1 and Zone 2, which basically correspond to lower-

and higher-elevation zones. The change to zones was very well received by

the public, law enforcement, outfitters-guides, and others. said Mark

Stiles, Forest Supervisor and Center Manager.

The zones are not based strictly on elevation or vegetation type because it

was necessary to find some definable features to describe the boundary

between zones for better public understanding and compliance. From Highway

550 east to Wolf Creek Pass, the low zone includes all San Juan Public

Lands outside of the South San Juan and Weminuche Wildernesses. West of

Highway 550 over to the Utah border, fire managers have used roads and

trails to define the Zone 1, which basically includes lands south of

Kennebec Pass, Spruce Mill Road, and the West Dolores Road.

All BLM-San Juan Center lands, including Canyons of the Ancients National

Monument, are in Zone 1, except for those located near Silverton in San

Juan and Ouray counties.

People may have to use a part of the forest that they are not familiar

with if they want to have a campfire outside of a campground, said Stiles,

but at least they still have that opportunity with the zones.

There are three stages of fire restrictions available to federal fire

managers. Stages 1, 2, and 3, with Stage 1 being the least restrictive and

Stage 3 the most restrictive.  The need to go to Stage 2 restrictions could

be triggered by either continued dry weather or an increase in human-caused

fires.

Fire managers look at fuel moistures and other indices to determine the

fire danger, as well as some subjective factors, when deciding whether to

institute fire restrictions. All our dead and down fuels are exhibiting

very low fuel moistures, and the annual grasses, like cheatgrass, have

begun to cure out, increasing the chances of a human-caused fire escaping,

said Lauer. Fuel moistures in live green fuels are starting to peak and

will be decreasing over future weeks.

Fire managers look at the long-range outlook not only for weather, but also

the availability of firefighting resources. Right now we are still in good

shape in southwest Colorado, said Lauer, We have some additional

resources on hand as a precaution due to the dry conditions.

Firefighters have responded to almost 70 fires in southwest Colorado this

year, ranging in size from 1/10 of an acre to over 500 acres.  The Durango

Airtanker Base has already gone through more than 100,000 gallons of

retardant this year, much of it on last week's Black Ridge Fire on Southern

Ute lands, and also in assisting on numerous fires in New Mexico and Utah.

A permanent single-engine air tanker (SEAT) base was recently completed at

the Cortez Municipal Airport and a SEAT will be available when needed.

Current aerial resources stationed in the area include two Type 3

helicopters - one at the Hesperus Helibase and one at the Ute Mountain Ute

agency, a National Type 2 helicopter stationed in Durango, and one heavy

airtanker stationed at the Durango Airtanker Base. Additional firefighters

and/or engines are also stationed at the Dolores, Bayfield, and Pagosa

Springs Offices to assist with initial attack on new fire starts and

provide 7-day coverage.

Flyers describing the current restrictions will be posted across the public

lands at trailheads, campgrounds, and entry areas. Maps showing the two

zones will be available at Public Lands Offices in Pagosa, Bayfield,

Durango, and Dolores, as well as at Visitor Centers and on the Web by the

end of the week.

Fire restrictions went into effect today on Southern Ute lands and in

Montezuma County, and will go into effect on Ute Mountain Ute lands on June

1.  Mesa Verde National Park is also in restrictions. Fire restrictions

throughout Colorado may be found at

http://www.dola.state.co.us/oem/PublicInformation/firebans/firenews.html

(See attached file: fire_restrictions_news_release_0530.doc)

Pamella Wilson

Fire Information Officer

San Juan Public Lands Center

970-385-1230

970-799-1203 (cell)

e-mail:  plwilson@fs.fed.us