City crews close North Cheyenne Canon to remove dead trees

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- For multiple days over the next two weeks, he City of Colorado Springs will temporarily close North Cheyenne Canon Park to remove a bunch of dead trees.

The dates of closures will take place from 5 a.m. -3 p.m. on the 12th, 13th and the 19th and 20th. These closures will allow for critical forestry and maintenance operations to take place.

It's something that hasn't been done in Cheyenne Canon since 2013. It’s been seven years since the forestry department has gone up and cleaned out the dead trees along the highway.

Dennis Will, City Forester, said, “We have a number of large-diameter, very tall trees that need to be removed; so that’s what the guys are doing in here this morning.”

But what exactly caused these trees to die?

“Mountain Pine Beetle, Doug Fir Beetle probably going to be a little Douglas Fir Pull Beetle and also abiotic environmental conditions as well,” said Will.

So because of that, over the next two weeks crews will begin to remove 32 dead trees which will in turn reduce future risk of falling trees along North Cheyenne Canon Road and parking areas.

“They are 80 feet tall and they weigh literal tons and they would put a bonk on your head if they fell on ya," said Will. "We are very concerned about citizen safety so we want to take the opportunity to take those trees out before they fall and hurt somebody.”

The city has been trying to remove the trees for some time and thought with the reduced foot traffic due to Covid-19 during the week that this would be the perfect time to remove them.

Will said, “When they drop the trees from 80 foot in the air they shatter and so the debris goes everywhere so we just have to make sure that everybody is safe. We can’t have anybody in there.”

During maintenance times, the main gate will remain closed and closure signs will be visible onsite.