Free public firewood gathering will again be available at the Wrights Lake Recreation Area on the Eldorado National Forest to this weekend.

The area was hit by a severe wind storm almost a year ago, causing more than 200 trees to fall. As part of the clean-up effort, the Forest Service has scheduled a series of woodcutting events which allow people to cut and gather firewood in an area normally closed to fuel wood cutting. The gate will be open Nov. 8-9 rom 9am-4pm. Free non-commercial use permits will be issued on site.

The following rules will be in effect during the event:

• Permit is for personal use only. No commercial wood gathering for resale will be allowed.
• No early entry will be allowed.
• Public not involved in the wood gathering will need to park outside the gate in the overflow parking area.
• 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.