Permits available for Christmas Tree cutting

Permits for cutting Christmas trees on designated Bureau of Land Management-controlled property will be available starting Nov. 15 at several Nevada offices. The one-per-household permits are $5 and trees may be cut through Dec. 18.

Nine cutting areas have been laid out in the BLM Carson City District.

"Modern fire suppression has resulted in less environmental diversity in many areas as pinons have crowded out grasses, forbs and shrubs that support a variety of animal populations," said Steep Weiss, Carson City deputy assistant manager for renewable resources.

He said pinons reproduce rapidly and fires are recognized as a natural process that can control the population and maintain forest stands and openings.

"Harvesting a limited number of trees in designated areas just before the Christmas holidays helps restore a better ecological balance and, besides, it's a lot of fun for a great number of families in Nevada. A lot of folks have made their annual tree-cutting trip a family tradition."

Harvest areas in the Carson City district include the Brunswick Canyon, Lebo Spring and Como cutting areas near Carson City; the Jack Wright Summit area near Wellington; the Sunrise Basin area west of Yerington; the Rattlesnake Flat area south of Hawthorne, and the War Canyon Camp Creek and Buffalo Canyon/Carroll Summit area about 65 miles east of Fallon.

The permits may be purchased at the BLM state office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, weekdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; the Carson City BLM field office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, weekdays 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. or from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays Nov. 27, Dec. 4, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18; the USDA Farm Services Agency offices in Fallon (423-5127), Gardnerville (883-2623) and Yerington (463-2855) during normal office hours, and the Community Action Center in Hawthorne (945-2471) during normal office hours.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Substations at North Valley (267-3691), Topaz Ranch Estates (266-1028) and Tillman Lane (265-7090) will be selling BLM permits for cutting area in the Pine Nut Mountains. Permits for the cutting areas east of Fallon will be available at the Middlegate and Cold Springs cafe/service stations on Highway 50.