There’s Life in Dead Trees

Dead and dying trees provide food and shelter for many wild animals. Wildlife Trees are scarce in some areas because of overharvest as firewood. Before taking a standing dead tree for fire- wood, consider leaving it for wildlife habitat. As a tree dies, each stage of its decomposi- tion plays a vital role in the feeding, breeding or housing of mammals and birds. Even if a cavity or nest is vacant, it may serve as a home later. Standing dead ponde- rosa pines provide food and shelter for many spe- cies of wildlife, and cannot be cut for firewood in many areas. Please see “Special Gathering Rules” and the map inside for details. For More Firewood Ponderosa pines are Information prevalent in low- to mid- elevations. They have for thick, protective bark com- prised of stacked plates like puzzle pieces. In Personal Use older trees, the bark is orange in color. Ponderosa needles come bundled in three’s, and are five to 10 inches long, form- ing tufts at branch ends. Ponderosa San Juan Public Lands Center pine cones are 15 Burnett Court Durango, CO 81301 San Juan National Forest three to six 970 247-4874 inches in length Columbine Ranger District and and have sharp 367 S.Pearl St. Bayfield, CO 81122 teeth. 970 884-2512 BLM Tres Rios Field Office THANK YOU! Dolores Public Lands Office 29211 Hwy 184 Dolores, CO 81323 970 882-7296 Southwestern Colorado Pagosa Ranger District Check with our offices to 180 Pagosa St, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 see if fire bans are in place 970 264-2268 (Revised that may restrict the use of www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan chainsaws. 2013) How to Use Your Tags Areas Off-Limits What You Can Cut STEP 1. Purchase tags for gathering firewood (See Inside Map) on National Forest or BLM lands. Tags allow you Downed or Standing Dead Trees: to gather firewood a half cord at a time, if needed. You may remove for firewood: Some areas that are off-limits will be posted. Other areas listed be- • Dead wood lying on the ground. low or on the inside map may not STEP 2. Tags are nonrefundable, nontrans- • A standing dead tree of any size as be posted but are still off-limits. ferable and valid only for the year in which they long as it has no green foliage, except are purchased. Tags can only be used to gather for ponderosa pine (*see below). firewood for personal use. Gathering firewood ON BLM LANDS for resale requires a commercial-use permit. Wood cut for firewood larger than 7 • All areas behind locked gates. inches in diameter must be cut to a • Animas Mountain, Grandview Ridge and Perins Peak areas near Durango STEP 3. Take your unvalidated tags with you length of 8 feet or less. to gather firewood. Carry a map so you know if • Dolores River Canyon, McKenna Peak, Menefee you are on National Forest or BLM land. Do not and Weber Mountain Wilderness Study Areas, and Live Green Oak: Disappointment Valley trespass on private land. You may remove for firewood: • Canyons of the Ancients National Monument • Live green oak less than 6 inches in STEP 4. Estimate the amount of your load and diameter. ON NATIONAL FOREST LANDS validate the corresponding number of tags (see • Lizard Head, Weminuche, South San Juan below). Each tag is good for a half cord of wood. Other: Wilderness Areas; Piedra Management Area, Punch out the dates to validate the tag(s) as You may remove for firewood: Chimney Rock National Monument. you load the wood. • Downed green trees, of various sizes • Narraquinnep Resource Natural Area. or species, ONLY in specially desig- • McPhee Park off Dolores-Norwood Rd #526. STEP 5. Before transporting firewood from nated fuels-reduction areas. Check with • Area surrounding McPhee Reservoir and Dolores where you gathered it, attach the validated tag(s) Rangers Districts for opportunities. River below the dam. to the load in a visible manner. Be prepared to • Within 100’ of Colo. Hwy 145, W. Dolores Rd #535 stop your vehicle so your tags may be verified. and Dolores-Norwood Road #526. What You Cannot Cut • La Plata Canyon. The average truckbed can carry a half cord ON ALL PUBLIC LANDS of wood. A full cord will fit if the truckbed Ponderosa Pine*: • Well pads, pipelines, powerlines, active tim- has extended side No standing dead ponderosa ber sales and areas being revegetated. rails that allow pines can be cut on National Forest • Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas, Re- you to load wood lands on the Columbine District in the search Natural Areas, Recreation Management Ar- up to the height of the cab (see HD Mountains, or on BLM lands from eas, campgrounds, picnic areas, resorts, and admin- illustration). Bayfield to Durango. istrative sites. A full cord of wood, measures 8’ X 4’ X 4’. On the rest of the Columbine Distict and ACCESSING OFF-ROAD AREAS WARNING: Validated tags are good only for the the entire Dolores and Pagosa Districts, load you are transporting and may not be reused. Unless otherwise posted, you may drive up to 300 Hauling without a tag, or with a previously used no standing dead ponderosa pines mea- feet off an open road on BLM or National Forest tag, is illegal. Violation of federal regulations can suring larger than 15” in diameter can lands to park and load wood, but ONLY if you can result in confiscation, fines and/or imprisonment. be cut. do so without damaging soil or vegetation.