Summit County Citizens Voice

The U.S. Forest Service wants input on a new rule for planning uses on national forests.

A roundup of environmental stories published in Summit Voice the past few days

*Click on the headline to get the full story

Forest Service sets meetings on new forest planning rule

The Forest Service is adopt a new national forest planning rule that determines ‘zoning’ of national forests. The rule is critical for future plans on the White River National Forest and public lands in Summit County.

Will the beetle battle hurt other Forest Service programs?

Volunteer groups in Summit County are concerned that a push to cut down hazardous beetle-killed trees around campgrounds will divert resources from other Forest Service programs.

See more headlines after the break:

Snowmobiler busted for wilderness violation near Aspen

Know the rules before you go, rangers say; info available at forest web sites

By Bob Berwyn
SUMMIT COUNTY — The U.S. Forest Service continued a crackdown on renegade snowmobilers with a Feb. 28 bust in the Aspen area, where a ranger cited a Denver man for riding his machine in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area.

Only a slim chance of reaching average snowpack, feds say

Summit Voice is reporting from Summit County, Colorado that snowpack levels are tracking well below average in the northern part of the state.

Pronghorn population boosted near Gunnison

Summit Voice reports on efforts to boost the pronghorn antelope population in the Gunnison Basin that was hammered by severe winter weather a few years ago.

Environment: Alaskan glaciers not melting as fast as thought

New research shows Alaskan glacier aren’t melting as fast as thought, but don’t get rid of your snorkel — the rate of melting has doubled in the past 20 years.

Feds: Greater sage-grouse won’t get endangered listing

SUMMIT COUNTY — Federal officials said today that the greater sage-grouse qualifies for Endangered Species act protection, but will have to wait in line behind higher-priority species.

Filed under: Environment, global warming, public lands, Summit County Colorado Tagged: | Bob Berwyn, conservation, Environment, global warming, Summit County Colorado, Summit County News, Summit Voice