The U.S. Forest Service said Monday that the 10-year stewardship contracts will reduce help threats of catastrophic wildfires on at least 20,000 acres.
Kremmling-based Confluence Energy won a $4.75 million contract to remove beetle-killed trees in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests. Confluence will pay for material that could be used for commercial purposes.
West Range Reclamation, of Hotchkiss, has an $8.66 million contract to remove trees susceptible to infestation in the White River National Forest. It is developing uses for the trees with Eagle Valley Clean Energy, which plans a biomass power plant in Gypsum with financing from a $40 million loan guarantee from the USDA.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)