Pine beetle mitigation will impact some Canyon Lakes Ranger District campgrounds

Work related to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, including hazard-tree cutting and insecticide spraying, will temporarily close several recreation areas in the Canyon Lakes Ranger District this spring and summer.

Contract crews monitored by the U.S. Forest Service are spraying 7,400 trees in select campgrounds and day-use areas with carbaryl, an insecticide sold under the brand name Sevin. Spraying requires calm weather and could begin as soon as April 28. Spraying is planned at these locations:

· Bellaire Campground and Day-use
· Dowdy Campground and Day-use (temporary closure necessary)
· Mountain Park Campground and Day-use
· Jacks Gulch Campground
· West Lake Campground and Day-use
· Redfeather Work Center

Also, about 250 white pine blister rust resistant limber pines and conifers will be sprayed this spring in the Cherokee Park and Crown Point areas.

Check the Web or call visitor-information specialists at 970-295-6700 before heading out. Also make sure to check the status of roads across the district, as hazard tree cutting activities and flood damage have some roads closed.

For the latest status of recreation areas and roads, check the web at www.fs.usda.gov/arp or call our visitor information office. The Forest Service will try to keep the public updated of changes through our website and/or Twitter account at twitter.com/usfsclrd.