There are large piles of dead trees lying alongside the roadway at the end of the Gunflint Trail right now. Apparently someone came up with an idea to remove the still standing but dead trees left from the Ham Lake Fire of 2007. What I’m not sure of is what exactly is the plan?
The USFS, the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway and the National Scenic Byway were involved in obtaining a grant for the clearing of the dead trees in the road right of way. It certainly doesn’t look very scenic to me right now and who is to say absense of dead trees is more scenic than dead trees standing? I sure hope the definition of road right of way isn’t too loosely interpretated or our landscape may end up looking a bit like North Dakota in the process.
Maybe there’s someone who has the complete plan and could share it with the folks who actually live at the end of the Gunflint Trail? Like, when are the piles of dead trees and all of the brush going to be removed from the roadway? Will something be done to prevent erosion from where the heavy equipment scarred the earth? As a resident who drives the roads and sees the landscape I was getting used to the trees and they weren’t bothering me or the roadway. They weren’t even interfering with any power or phone lines so what’s up? What’s the Plan?
Motorists traveling along the Gunflint Trail and on several side roads near Seagull Lake are advised that contract equipment will be working in the road right-of-way to remove trees killed as a result of the Ham Lake Fire. Crews will be working at various locations along the route for the next 3-5 weeks, starting on Tuesday February 23rd. Although work areas will be signed, drivers should use caution and watch for potential hazards when traveling through the areas. Work will usually be conducted during the week but may extend into the weekends.
This work is part of a grant provided by the National Scenic Byways Program, the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway Committee and the USDA Forest Service.
Motorists traveling along the Gunflint Trail and on several side roads near Seagull Lake are advised that contract equipment will be working in the road right-of-way to remove trees killed as a result of the Ham Lake Fire. Crews will be working at various locations along the route for the next 3-5 weeks, starting on Tuesday February 23rd. Although work areas will be signed, drivers should use caution and watch for potential hazards when traveling through the areas. Work will usually be conducted during the week but may extend into the weekends.
This work is part of a grant provided by the National Scenic Byways Program, the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway Committee and the USDA Forest Service.
