The Wrights Lake Recreation Area on the Eldorado National Forest will be open to free public firewood gathering on Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 1-2 from 9am-4pm.

Woodcutters will be issued a free permit on site.

The area was severely damaged last winter when more than 200 trees fell during extremely high winds. The storm caused extensive damage to the campground, picnic areas and trails in the area.

Forest Service district employees worked hard last spring to make the area safe by hosting a special clean-up event where members of the community were allowed to remove numerous loads of wood under permit. The area, though, is still littered with a large number of downed trees.

The following rules will be in effect during the event:

· Free Permit is for personal use only. No commercial wood gathering for resale will be allowed.

· No early entry will be allowed.

· Recreation activities will be restricted during this event to provide for public safety. Access to the Rockbound and Twin Lakes trail heads will be allowed.

· Wood cutters must remain on existing paved roads, pull-outs and spurs, and must not block roads, gates or closure barriers.

· Only newly wind downed logs will be permitted for cutting. Older weathered logs must be left on site.

· Woodcutters must check out and exit the gate prior to 4pm each day.

·Members of the public not honoring these rules will be asked to leave.