Outdoor Briefs

Refuge area opens to firewood cutting

Harvesting firewood for personal use is now allowed on a section of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Funny River Road Firewood Area also contains long, thin fire-killed spruce that might be good for corral poles.

A $25 permit is required to take firewood or logs for corral poles. The permit allows a seasonal limit of five cords of firewood or the equivalent amount in logs for corral poles. The wood is for personal use only.

No other wood cutting is allowed on the refuge, although wood that is already dead and down may be used for campfires on refuge land. The permits, as well as maps of the cutting areas, are available at the refuge visitor center on Ski Hill Road in Soldotna.

Forest Service requests input on INHT project

The U.S. Forest Service is requesting public input on a proposal for the preservation, development and management of the Iditarod National Historic Trail within the Chugach National Forest Boundary and connecting Seward with Girdwood at the Crow Pass Trail.

The project encompasses development and management of hiking, biking, snowmachine and cross-country ski trails. It also includes the protection, preservation and interpretation of heritage resources.

Public comment should be received by Dec. 27 for consideration in the early planning process. For more information, contact the Seward Ranger District, attention Pat O'Leary, P.O. Box 390, Seward, AK 99664-0390. The phone number is 224-4109 and the e-mail address is poleary@fs.fed.us. Information also may be obtained from the Glacier Ranger District, attention Alison Rein, P.O. Box 129, Girdwood, AK 99587-0129. The phone number is 754-2329 and the e-mail address is arein@fs.fed.us. Copies of the scoping notice also are available on the Web at www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach.