DEL NORTE – The Rio Grande National Forest’s Divide Ranger District announced today that an area closure around Poage Lake will go into effect immediately. The closure is needed to provide for public safety during logging operations. The closure affects the area adjacent to the north and east sides of Poage Lake including the road up to the parking area. This is a full area closure which means both being on the road or in the restricted area are prohibited.

“This closure is necessary to keep the public safe while logging operations harvest the dead trees from areas adjacent to the lake,” said Martha Williamson, the Divide Ranger District’s district ranger. “The heavy logging equipment used can be very dangerous to people unfamiliar with those operations. It is best to allow the operator to conduct the activities more safely and efficiently, without the risk of unsuspecting visitors in the area.” The district is pleased to be making progress towards removing dead trees, despite the shortterm impact to recreation at the lake. Nearby fishing opportunities include Beaver Creek and Million Reservoirs.

The operator will begin logging immediately and plans to finish in the area by the end of the year. Should the operations be completed earlier, officials will evaluate the closure order and rescind it, if it is deemed safe to do so.

For information on the closure please, call the Divide Ranger District at (719) 850-2374.

The full closure order can be found on the Rio Grande National Forest’s Alert’s & Notices web page at: https://www.fs.usda. gov/detail/riogrande/