Forest Service extends fuelwood collection season

Season now to run through November

Inyo National Forest is extending personal fuelwood collection season from October 31 to November 30, 2022, weather permitting. This is due to the lack of snow and the large availability of fuelwood, especially at the Inyo Craters parking lot, and two stockpile locations behind the Sherwin Creek Road tank farm and North Shore Drive in

June Lake.

A permit is still required, and may be obtained at the following locations:

•Mammoth Lakes

Welcome Center in Mammoth Lakes; (760) 924-5500

Tuesday - Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.. and 2 4 p.m.

Call ahead and check the weather forecast before purchasing tags. The Forest Service may need to abruptly close the woodcutting season before Nov. 30 due to winter storms, which hinders accessibility and makes roads more susceptible to vehicle damage.

The Forest Service will continue instituting shut down days for chainsaw use based upon the fire danger. Permit holders should call (760) 8732555 for this information (updated daily after 4 p.m).

Not all areas within the forest are open to wood collecting due to active timber sales, sensitive resources, designated wilderness areas and other reasons. Maps are available with a purchased fuelwood permit, and georeferenced versions are also available to download on the free Avenza app where users can navigate via satellite service within the forest to ensure their location.

Fuelwood permits are still $15 per cord with a two cord minimum.

The Fuelwood Strategy (1998), remains valid. Downed logs greater than 30 inches in diameter are required to remain on the forest floor for wildlife habitat and recycling of nutrients. Permit sales are directly returned to the forest for continued implementation of this program.