South Lake Tahoe, Calif.  –The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has begun the sale of fuelwood permits at the South Shore office, and at the North Shore office.  Permits cost $20 per cord, with a two-cord minimum purchase and a limit of 10 cords per household.

Permits have specific conditions and complete information is provided when the permit is issued.  Maps to designated cutting areas are provided and must be in the permit holder’s possession along with the valid permit.  The permit is for collection of “down-dead” wood up to a 30-inch maximum diameter in designated fuelwood areas within the Lake Tahoe Basin.  “Down-dead” means the tree is down on the ground and dead, rather than dead and standing.  Cutting any standing tree, whether dead or green, is not allowed.

No off-road travel is allowed and permit holders must comply with all permit conditions.  Some designated fuelwood areas are only open during specified dates and all areas are subject to closure at any time.  Permit holders should stay off private property and show courtesy regarding noise or collection activity on National Forest System lands near homes or neighborhoods.

The last day to purchase a permit is Friday, November 14, 2014, and the last day to cut wood is Sunday, November 16, 2014.  Please be aware that forest roads and gates begin closing in mid-November.  Some cutting areas may not be accessible by vehicle in areas where gates have closed.  Permit holders should check whether road closures are in effect and should not go behind closed gates.  For a complete list of opening/closing dates, visithttp://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/OpeningClosingDates.

The LTBMU Supervisor’s Office at 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the North Shore office at 855 Alder Avenue in Incline Village is open Wednesday throughFriday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For more information, call the South Shore office at (530) 543-2694, or the North Shore office at (775) 831-0914, or visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/FuelwoodPermits.