Get Yer Firewood, Starting Today

May 21, 2005

By Bump Diamond
Man About Town

    All right, all you wooders, wannabe wooders and occasional woodies:         
    Ready, set, go, go, go.
    The fuelwood season opens today in the Inyo National Forest. If the day continues as forecast—mild, sunny and not a care in the world—it might be easy to forget what a hellbitch of a winter this past one was, and how grateful you were to have dry, seasoned firewood at the ready.
    Today begins Payback Time, so make sure there's a good mixture in your chain saws, good cheer among your crews and no injuries to toes, feet, fingers or spirit.
    Personal Fuelwood Permits have been on sale at local Forest Service Ranger Stations and Visitor Centers since April 18th so there's no excuse to not be out there, hacking away, and the supply looks to be good.
    In addition to firewood left over from last year, approximately 800 acres in the Tunnel and Aqueduct areas will be thinned throughout the summer, according to the Forest Service.
    Maps showing these areas are available with a purchased Fuelwood permit.  Fuelwood permits are $13 a cord with a two cord minimum purchase, which is a change from previous years.
    The maximum number remains at 6 cords per person and 12 cords per household.
    The Forest Service will institute "shutdown days" when fire danger is high or extreme.  (Call 760/873-2555 for information on shutdown days.)
    Fuelwood permits may be obtained at:
    Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center in Lee Vining; (760) 647-3045.
    Mammoth Visitor Center in Mammoth Lakes; (760) 924-5500.
    White Mountain Ranger Station in Bishop; (760) 873-2500.
    Mt. Whitney Ranger Station; (760) 876-6200 & InterAgency Visitor Center; (760) 876-6222 in Lone Pine.
    Meanwhile, the Fuelwood Strategy will continue this year.  Large ends of all downed logs (those portions greater than 30 inches in diameter) are required to remain on the forest floor for wildlife habitat and recycling of soil nutrients. 
    Also identified in the Fuelwood Strategy is the need to increase the price per cord to cover the cost to run the Fuelwood program. 
    Ninety-five percent of the money collected from the Fuelwood program is directly returned to the Inyo National Forest for continued implementation of the program; the other five percent is required by law to be deposited into the U.S. Treasury.