Eldorado changes wood permit rules

Woodcutting permits on the Eldorado National Forest have been changed to allow larger standing dead conifer trees to be cut for firewood.

This will allow for removal of potentially dangerous roadside hazard trees.

Forest Service permits are available for harvesting a variety of forest products for personal use including firewood, cones, decorative forest greens, boughs, and mushrooms.

The new fuelwood permits on the Eldorado National Forest allow removal of standing dead softwood trees such as pine, fir, and cedar up to 20 inches in diameter at eye level which is an increase from the previous 10 inch diameter limit. The size limit for dead standing hardwood trees such as oak is still 10 inches in diameter at eye level. There is no diameter limit in the fuelwood permit for dead trees that have already fallen to the ground, either softwood or hardwood species.

Woodcutting permits can be purchased year round, however the wet season closure of native surface roads will limit access when in effect. There is also no cutting of standing dead trees from Dec. 1-Marh 31 to prevent accidental cutting of live deciduous trees which may look dead when they lose their leaves.

Any dead tree that has already fallen to the ground may be cut year round with a permit provided that legal access is possible. All fuelwood permits expire on Dec. 31 of the year purchased.

For more info, call 530.295.5699.