Release Date: Aug 18, 2016 Placerville, CA
Contact(s): Jennifer Chapman, 530-957-9660
Woodcutting permits on the Eldorado National Forest have been changed to allow larger standing dead conifer trees to be cut for firewood.
“This change in our woodcutting permits will encourage removal of potentially dangerous roadside hazard trees,” said forest supervisor Laurence Crabtree. “Fire and bark beetles have left a lot of dead trees which could fall across forest roads, particularly the less travelled roads in the back country.”
Forest Service permits are available for harvesting a variety of forest products for personal use including firewood, cones, decorative forest greens, boughs, and mushrooms. Many families rely on wood as a heat source in the winter. All permittees who are harvesting forest products are reminded that standing dead trees are prone to falling which is a serious natural hazard. Anyone who is in the forest should pay close attention to the condition of the trees around them and use extra caution around dead trees which could fall or drop branches suddenly.
The new fuelwood permits on the Eldorado National Forest allow removal of standing dead softwood trees such as pine, fir, and cedar up to 20 inches in diameter at eye level which is an increase from the previous 10 inch diamater limit. The size limit for dead standing hardwood trees such as oak is still 10 inches in diameter at eye level. There is no diameter limit in the fuelwood permit for dead trees that have already fallen to the ground, either softwood or hardwood species.
Woodcutting permits can be purchased year round, however the wet season closure of native surface roads will limit access when in effect. There is also no cutting of standing dead trees from December 1st through March 31st to prevent accidental cutting of live deciduous trees which may look dead when they lose their leaves. Any dead tree that has already fallen to the ground may be cut year round with a permit provided that legal access is possible. All fuelwood permits expire on December 31 of the year purchased. Anyone who already purchased a 2016 woodcutting permit under the old guidelines is allowed to cut up to the new larger diameter limit for softwood species.
Additional information about woodcutting permits:
Cost: $15 per cord.
Quantity: Minimum 2 cords.
Availability: Permits can be purchased year round and expire on December 31 of the year purchased.