Community slash pit will close if dumping of illegal items persists

GLENWOOD, NM, May 17, 2023 – The Gila National Forest, Glenwood Ranger District reports a large amount of prohibited trash items dumped at the Glenwood Community Slash Pit. Additional signage and a camera will be installed to provide for 24-hour site monitoring.

“This site is used as part of the Catron County Firewise program, a valued partnership that helps remove hazardous vegetation on and adjacent to private lands,” said Acting Glenwood District Ranger Brian Stultz. “It would be extremely disappointing and harmful to the Glenwood community to be forced to close the site due to illegal dumping.”

Several community slash pits exist on the Gila National Forest near adjacent communities, to support ongoing hazardous fuels mitigation on and around private lands.

This free service allows members of the public to haul slash and other woody debris to the site, to be burned by the Forest Service at an appropriate time. Dumping of household trash, metal, plastic, construction materials, sewage, petroleum products, furniture or other non-native debris anywhere on the Gila National Forest is always prohibited. For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov.