Forest Service wheels turn slow

The wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly and the pine beetle devastation of the North Slope of the Uinta Mountains hasn’t jump started the U. S. Forest Service to mitigate the damages to the mountain range. The problems of the pine beetle forest kill were brought to the forefront at a meeting in Lyman last March when the Uinta County Coalition stepped forward to try to get some help in mitigating the problems on the North Slope. Cheryl Probert, Wasatch-Cache deputy forest supervisor from Salt Lake City, said the Forest Service had “prioritized” and developed an “integrated management plan” since another meeting last fall. She said the Forest Service had made some internal changes that did not require an “assessment.” She said these things included prioritizing the beetle-killed tree areas, working on the fuel reduction on areas adjacent to private property, cleaning dead trees from around campground, and trail areas, allowing the cutting of firewood from 100 to 300 feet along roadways and the spraying of live trees to protect them from the pine beetles. She reiterated numerous times; the Forest Service was hampered due to funding and staffing. Questions at the meeting indicated the public’s frustration with the devastation of the forest and the need for more pro-action. Fort Bridger rancher Ron Mcheli said he had asked about taking his Bobcat in to help get some of the dead timber and was told no. Rancher Karen Henry also questioned why people were stopped from using four-wheelers and trailers. She said these things would make it easier for the public to get their firewood. As for the value of the dead trees, it was stated the value declines with each passing year...more