County offers free cut-and-haul Christmas trees

By Amanda Manchester, Herald Reporter
Posted 10/30/24

EVANSTON — Uinta County is proud to offer a Christmas tree cut-and-haul giveaway on three Saturdays in November.   The pilot program is part of the cabin restoration efforts at the Uinta …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

County offers free cut-and-haul Christmas trees

Posted

EVANSTON — Uinta County is proud to offer a Christmas tree cut-and-haul giveaway on three Saturdays in November.  The pilot program is part of the cabin restoration efforts at the Uinta County Youth Camp (UCYC) near Robertson.

“The camp is 52 years old; we want to preserve it for generations to come,” Uinta County Environmental Services Director Ron Taylor told the Herald. “It’s the best kept secret in southwest Wyoming.”

The restoration project began after the 2016 Tokewanna fire, which burned roughly 1,400 acres total, over 200 of which were located at the camp. While the structures at UCYC were unharmed, the fire damage encouraged significant and crowded tree regrowth.

“These trees are anywhere from 3 to 10 feet tall and have grown in too tightly,” he said.

According the Taylor, “the fire marshal advised that the camp needs to clean up and reduce the fire dangers the best we can. We’re going to thin them to 12 foot spacing. This is probably a four-year project.”

The county received a $220,000 grant to “help clean up the deadfall and the stuff that’s deteriorating,” a measure, Taylor explains, that exercises a partnership with the state forester.

In an effort to stretch the grant funding efforts as far as possible, the county is inviting people to drive to the camp and cut and haul away lodgepole pine trees from designated areas. The three-Saturday event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 9, 16 and 30, at 11361 County Road 271 in Robertson, weather permitting.

“We reserve the right to cancel any of the dates due to weather,” Taylor said.

Look to the Herald’s social media on Facebook for any updates.

Taylor advises to bring your own tools — axes, chainsaws, etc.; dress for inclement weather; be physically prepared for a hike and to carry your tree out of the forest to your vehicle. Check in with a staff member upon arrival to receive a transport tag before cutting.

Further instructions include:

• Trees must come from designated areas.

• You are responsible to check out with staff to receive your tree transportation tag.

• Do not cut any painted or ribbon-marked trees.

• Please stay out of shop areas.

• Follow all directions from on-ground county personnel.

• Please be kind to everyone and cut your tree as close to the ground, within 6 inches, as possible.

• You are responsible for securing your load; rope, twine or cordage will not be available, please supply your own.

• Have fun, have a Merry Christmas and thank you for your participation in our forest management program.

A flyer for the program states that the “trees are being thinned in designated areas to help improve the overall health of the forest ... in an effort to preserve and beautify the beloved Youth Camp of Uinta County.”

“This is a service that the commissioners and Uinta County are happy to provide.  It’s going to be a cool project,” Taylor said.  “My hope is that people will come up, enjoy the day, be safe, sing around their Christmas trees and make them beautiful.”