If you've been out on Fire Tower Trail, you've seen the blue markers painted on some trees. In late June, these marked trees in the Harrison-Crawford State Forest were sold.
Many of the trees are white ash trees, which are being attacked by the emerald ash borer. The emerald ash borer eats the inner layer of bark, which cuts off food and water to the tree, eventually killing them. At the rate the emerald ash borer is spreading, these trees are expected to die within the next ten years. The trees are being removed while they still have some value.
Logging operations can begin at any time between November 16, 2014 through March 31, 2015 and again from November 16, 2015 through March 31, 2016. While the logging operations take place, the Fire Tower Trail between Fox Hollow Road and Iron Bridge Road
will be closed to all hiking and biking.
Additional information regarding the planned trail closure will be posted on this site, as it comes available.
For more information about the logging, or Harrison-Crawford State Forest:
www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-HCnewsletter2014.pdf