AUGUSTA — Wood-lot owners with more than 10 but fewer than 5,000 forested acres are being encouraged to contact the Maine Forest Service’s Ice Line to find out if they qualify for federal cost share assistance. Wood-lot owners should call 877-ICE-TREE or 877-423-8733 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or leave a voice mail message during evenings and weekends. Operators will mail an informational kit containing a grant application and list of foresters to contact. Forestry officials report that 1,150 calls have been recorded on the Ice Line since June 3, when the program began.

“The key is that if wood-lot owners experienced damage to their wood lot due to the January ice storms, they’re probably eligible for assistance,” commented Chuck Gadzik. “Our Forestry programs at the Maine Forest Service are here to accommodate the need and foresters across the state are trained and ready.” Gadzik added that the Maine Forest Service is committed to helping folks make informed decisions about forest recovery.

The Ice Line was set up in response to the $25 million federal grant the Maine Forest Service, a bureau of the Department of Conservation, received in June. The cost-share assistance is for developing forest management plans, hiring licensed foresters and for specific wood lot activities in response to ice-storm damage.