After months of waiting, the US Forest Service is holding its second stakeholder workshop for the Spruce Beetle and Sudden Aspen Decline treatment project (SPEADMR) on May 13th at Friendship Hall’s Pioneer Room (1001 N 2nd St) in Montrose.  This is a follow-up to the December 2013 public meeting that began the effort of helping stakeholders understand the project and its intent.

People are encouraged to come at 8:45 am to sign in and get refreshments before the meeting starts at 9:00 am.  There will be presentations on the latest science, potential alternatives, and opportunities for discussion and comments (see agenda).

This is a great chance to learn more about the project and get answers to some of your questions before the draft Environmental Impact Statement comes out later this summer. If you know of others who may want to join us, please share this message with them.

This meeting is jointly sponsored by the Public Lands Partnership, Western Colorado Landscape Collaborative, Uncompahgre Partnership, and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.

Please bring your own lunch. Space is limited, so please RSVP to Leigh Robertson at 970-316-1650 or info(at)upartnership.org (email) by May 9 if you plan to attend. Coffee, tea, water, and snacks will be provided. Feel free to come for part of the meeting if you can’t stay until 3:30 pm.