| Contacts: | Cass Cairns, BLM Public Affairs Specialist, 719-269-8553 | |||
| Barb Timock, USFS Public Affairs Specialist, 719-553-1415 |
BLM and US Forest Service Christmas tree permits available
CANON CITY, Colo. – Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and US Forest Service (FS) Christmas tree permits are now available at the Service First office for the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office and the San Carlos Ranger District located at 3028 E. Main St. in Cañon City. Permits may be purchased Monday-Friday, during regular office hours from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The cost for a permit is $10 per tree with a limit of two trees per household.
A BLM permit is valid for trees located on BLM lands only. The use of chainsaws is allowed.
A FS permit is valid for trees located on National Forest System lands within the boundaries of the San Carlos Ranger District and the use of chainsaws is not allowed.
Tree cutters must have a valid permit with them when cutting a tree. Trees may not be cut within a Wilderness area, Wilderness Study Areas, timber sale area, or administrative sites such as developed campgrounds. Additional guidelines, tips, and maps of suggested cutting areas are available with a purchased permit.
There are several species of trees available depending on location. Tree species include: Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, pinyon pine, white fir, spruce, and Rocky Mountain juniper.
BLM permits may also be purchased at the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor Center at 307 West Sackett Ave. in Salida, Monday-Friday during their regular business hours from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
FS permits for the San Carlos Ranger District may also be purchased at the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Supervisor’s office at 2840 Kachina Dr. in Pueblo, Monday-Friday during regular business hours from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Permits will be available at the FS offices in Westcliffe and La Veta but the public will need to call before stopping by as they do not have established office hours due to the limited number of staff. The Westcliffe office number is 719-783-2079 and the La Veta office number is 719-742-3681.
Cutting your own Christmas tree can be fun, but be prepared for winter conditions; there can be more snow in the high country than in town. Plan to do some walking through snow to get your tree and make sure everyone in your party has warm clothes and boots. Pack emergency supplies, carry the appropriate map and leave word with friends or relatives of your planned destination. Take a vehicle equipped for winter conditions with 4-wheel drive, snow tires or chains and start early, since winter days are shorter.
For more information call the BLM /FS Service First office at 719-269-8500.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
3028 East Main Street Canon City, CO 81212