Forest health treatments to be implemented in Leadville starting next week [Video]

LEADVILLE — The Leadville Ranger District of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands will be implementing forest health treatments next week.

They will be implemented below the Sugarloaf Dam, which is located near Turquoise Lake.

During the operations, Forest Service Road 113 and the area south of the road will be closed for the following from September 23 to December 15:

• public vehicle access
• camping
• hiking
• other recreational activities

The area of this project is about 13,580 acres near the following areas:

• Turquoise Lake
• Halfmoon Creek
• Tennessee Pass
• area of Mt. Zion

This project continues the one that began near Tennessee Creek in Leadville back in May. Noise may be heard as areas nearby will be thinned and regenerated for harvest where treatment isn’t happening. Thinning will help provide growing space for trees and reduce fuel loading.

The treatments will help create conditions more resilient to insect infestations and high-intensity …