Pile burning planned by Dolores Public Lands Office
The Dolores Public Lands Office plans to burn slash piles resulting from fuels reduction and timber projects in several areas across public lands this fall.
Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 30, fire crews will use forecasted snow cover to safely burn slash piles within two logging units 14 miles north of Mancos.
The first week of November will see additional pile burning within two fuels-reduction areas in the Summit Ridge area and also near Cahone.
After completion of these projects, fire crews also hope to conduct further pile burning before Thanksgiving in the Chicken Creek area between Mancos and Dolores and near Carlyle Point north of Dolores.
The exact timing of each project will be dependent on weather and other factors. Slash piles will be ignited and monitored by firefighters during daylight hours. The amount of piles burned on any one day will depend on the weather forecast and staffing levels. No road or trail closures are expected.
For more information, contact the Dolores Public Lands Office at (970) 882-7296.
Nonprofit offers funding for archaeological school trips
Bucks for Buses is a new program that provides transportation funding for classroom teachers to bring their students to the Anasazi Heritage Center and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument to learn with a museum or monument educator.
The program is made possible by the Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance (SCCA), Empire Electric and Conservation Lands Foundation.
SCCA will reimburse schools in the Dolores School District at the rate of $2 per mile to their destination, with a maximum of $50.
Teachers should contact Diane McBride at the Anasazi Heritage Center (970) 882-5628 or demcbride@blm.gov to reserve a day and time. Let her know you are applying for the Bucks for Buses program.
Teachers must have specific goals of the trip that will address Colorado Department of Education or other standards and have written documentation from the school principal stating that the trip would not be possible without transportation assistance.
"We hope that our local teachers will take advantage of this opportunity to utilize the exceptional cultural and natural landscape that exists here in our own backyard classroom to teach future generations," McBride said.
McPhee Marina Road to be closed in November
The McPhee Marina Road, Forest Service Road 271, will be closed from Friday, Nov. 1, through Saturday, Nov. 30, to allow for construction work in the marina area.
The San Juan National Forest is replacing the current toilet system to reduce energy use, maintenance costs and eliminate environmental hazards to the public and reservoir.
The construction zone closure is necessary to protect public safety because construction will include the use of heavy equipment for demolition work and loading materials into haul trucks, hauling on the McPhee Marina Road, and use of a crane.
The road will reopen Sunday, Dec. 1, road conditions permitting.
4-H Day will be at fairgrounds on Nov. 2
The second annual 4-H Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, 30100 U.S. Highway 160 in Cortez.
Come and experience firsthand some of the projects offered by 4-H.
The family event will include cake decorating, ceramics, rocket launch, scrapbooking, how to shoot a bow, felting and various animal projects. Concessions also are available.
4-H Clubs throughout Montezuma County are currently taking member and adult volunteer enrollment through December for the 2014 program year.
You can enroll online at https://colorado.4honline.com or at 4-H Day.
For more information or for any questions, call the 4-H office at 565-3123.
