Tree Removal Causes Road Closures in Med. Bow Forest

A series of temporary road closures in the Keystone, Wyo. area will take effect on Monday, Sept. 10 for Forest Road 543 (Douglas Creek Road) between Keystone and Lake Creek.

In order to minimize the impact on private land owners in the area, the road will be shut down in stages while a logging contractor is felling and removing beetle-killed and dying trees.  There will be three stages and they will move south to north as work progresses.

Alternate routes are advised when trying to travel the full length of the road, which runs from the intersection with Forest Road 542 (Keystone) to the intersection with Forest Road 509 (Lake Creek).  Those alternate routes include: Forest Roads 511, 512, 517, 542 and 543.

Work will occur Monday through Friday with no operations occurring on weekends and holidays.  The daily road closure will be in effect from 7 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. and the road will be open from 12-1 p.m.  Hazard tree removal work will continue until operations are complete or until approximately Dec. 1, 2012, whichever occurs first.

This is one of multiple forest management projects that have and will take place across the Laramie Ranger District (LRD) on the Medicine Bow National Forest in 2012.  Efforts to widely publicize the work areas and their subsequent effect on public access have been ongoing since this spring.

In this case, hazard trees are being removed that could impact the Douglas Creek Road, which accesses Bobby Thompson Campground and many private residences.  The campground, which has been closed all season for public safety, will remain closed during the project.

During the project, log trucks will be hauling along Forest Roads 512 and 543.  Visitors are advised to watch for new signs and changed conditions while traveling on the forest.  Do not enter areas which are posted closed, as they are closed for public safety.

Despite ongoing and extensive hazard tree reduction efforts, forest visitors are responsible for being aware of their surroundings and the risk of falling trees anytime they enter the forest.  Trees impacted by beetles appear red or have no needles, but green trees left after treatments are also susceptible to falling due to removal of the trees around them.  Remember to look up, look down and look around before setting up camps or parking vehicles under dead trees.