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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, April 4, 2001 - Page 3 Comment sought on several watershed projects to address spruce beetle problem Approximately 50 San Juan County residents participated in two open houses sponsored by the US. Forest Service to discuss the proposed actions in the Monticello Cote acknowledges that the logging is experimental, stating, No one has tried thinning the trees before. Wed like to do it here to see what happens. If everything goes like clockwork, it will still be more than a year and a half before there is any work on the project The Forest Service is working on a draft environ- The logging would take place on several thousand acres. Approximately 60 percent of the logging would be by helicopter. The logging is in the Indian Creek and North Creek drainages, including the small stand and Blanding watersheds. Everyone I talked too at the of trees that make up the meetings sounded positive about the proposed changes, said Greg Montgomery of the Horsehead. The idea is to thin the spruce trees, thereby making a more resilient stand of trees, in the hopes ofbeating back the beetle infestation. Forest Service representatives acknowledge that stopping the beetles through logging is a long shot. Diane Cote, US. Forest Service. The Forest Service is consid- ering three projects that would impact the watersheds, including upgrading the Monticello and Blanding water collection systems, upgrading the road over the North Creek saddle between mental impact statement, which will be released in June. comment peAfter a y could be reEIS final the riod, leased as early as the fall of 2001, with the sale in early work 2002, and at the end of 2002. 45-da- of the Forest Service, said, Nothing will stop the beetle. Monticello and Blanding, and We just hope that the beetle implementing logging to help wont kill all the trees that are deal with the spruce bark 10 to 14 inches in diameter. We know that they will probably beetle infestation. All three projects are an atkill everything bigger than tempt to deal with the beetle that, no matter what we do. The beetle, which initially infestation, which has deand kills the biggest attacks of tens millions of stroyed acres of spruce trees throughis trees, apparently less likely out the United States and is to infest smaller trees or trees beginning to infest trees on that are not in a tight the Abqjo Mountains. The participation of San Juan County and the cities of Monticello and Blanding is considered critical if the projects are to be approved. San Juan County will help defer the costs of the roadwork that will be necessary in order to widen and upgrade North Creek Road to allow logging. The cities of Monticello and Blanding are seeking funding to pay for upgrades in their time, overflow water from the respective water collection sys- dty collection system has simtems. ply been released down North The Monticello water collec- Creek. tion system is more than 50 The dty of Blanding is conold so in that old, it fact, years sidering a project, that could has historic status and will be valued as much as $1 milneed to have a review of its his- lion, to shore up the tunnel torical characteristics before which brings Indian Creek changes can be made. The water through theAbajos into Monticello water collection the Blanding watershed. Forest Service officials state system is primarily surface water collection, taken directly that if logging is permitted, it out of the flowing streams. will be on a similar size and City officials say they would scope of other logging projects like to develop the springs, and and they state that they hope hot necessarily the stream-bed- s. that it is financially viable. They state that the curThey are confident that the rent system is highly ineffi- contracts will be attractive to cient because of its age. logging companies. The system collects water There were few, if any, atfrom the North Creek, tendees at the meetings who Bankhead, Pole Creek Canyon expressed opposition to the and Gold Queen area. It pro- plan. However, it is antid-pate- d vides much of the drinking that a major effort to water for the residents of oppose the proposal will be Monticello. attempted by environmental City officials are hopeful organizations, who state that that by this year, overflow the proposals could do more water from the dty collection harm than kelp to the system can be diverted into Loyds Lake. Prior to this V: : .r mo. 1,508 LOWER MONTH LY PAYM ENTS IN 90 MINUTES? LET'S SEE MARTHA STEWART PULL OFF A MAKEOVER v LIKE THAT WITHOUT CHARGING A FEE. ' ' ' ZSC. . . 'V j AT ZIONS BANK WE CAN REFINANCE YOUR HOUSE IN 90 MINUTES FIAT, WITH NO FEES. V'"' " f N-. a financial makeover right. Well give your' house ' : ' v'c. Martha could never match, and you wont have to wait around for it, or waste money on things like appraisal fees, That X'. , ' v. : UW AS 6.991 Wknt to really lower your monthly payments? 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