Land Between the Lakes logging plan criticized by residents

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — U.S. Forest Service representatives and local residents are in disagreement over how best to preserve the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

The Paducah Sun (http://bit.ly/1INjY9I ) reports residents criticized the Forest Service’s plans during a public meeting in Gilbertsville on Thursday night.

The Forest Service, which manages the 170,000-acre area, says practices such as logging and burning should be used to convert some of the area’s regions into more open, savanna-like grasslands.

But many local residents say they want logging and burning to stop, and prefer to see the agency improve the roads, trails and other regional attractions instead.

Other residents favor some land management, but want the Forest Service to change its approach to the area.

A second meeting on the issue is scheduled for June 16 in Dover.

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Information from: The Paducah Sun, http://www.paducahsun.com

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