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Work begins on pine beetle project around Red Cliff

Vail Daily Staff Report
coutcalt@vaildaily.com
Red Cliff, CO Colorado

RED CLIFF, Colorado – County, Red Cliff and State Forest Service officials are working on clearing pine beetles from trees in areas around Red Cliff.

The project, which started this week, is meant to help provide protection in the event of a wildfire. Crews will be cutting and removing trees near the town cemetery for the next three weeks. Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

“The cemetery is a valuable historical site in Eagle County with grave sites dating back over 150 years. This project provides us with the opportunity to protect the town from wildfire as well as preserving the final resting place of many of the county’s earliest residents,” said Eric Lovgren, the county’s wildfire mitigation manager. “One of the challenges will be to safely remove the trees while leaving the cemetery intact.”



The goal of the project is to remove dead and dying lodgepole pine trees from a seven-acre area between the town and surrounding forest. The cemetery has been in existence since 1879 and the dying trees are located in close proximity to the historical site. Wood from the trees will be used to help renovate the cemetery fencing and gates and will also be made available as firewood to Red Cliff residents.


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