Draft Forest Plan For George Washington National Forest Released

Warm Springs, Va – A draft revision of the George Washington Forest Plan was released in mid May of 2011. Public meetings are scheduled from late June through early August to answer questions and take additional public comment. A public meeting will be held at Valley Elementary School in Hot Springs on July 27. See the website for additional public meetings in the area of the George Washington National Forest. A final revision of the George Washington Forest Plan is set for January 2012. Evaluations, analysis and information discussed at previous meetings are available on our website.

A very wet April and May has yielded to a prolonged dry spell that is expected to continue through the summer months in Virginia and the remainder of the Southeast. Lightning fires have recently occurred in nearby Nelson and Botetourt counties. Summer fires in our area are typically rare except when drought conditions prevail. Be additionally careful when using fire outside.

The Back Creek timber sale is currently being appraised and will be sold to the highest bidder in August 2011. The Decision Notice for the Back Creek project was signed on March 31, 2011. This project proposes to harvest timber on approximately 208 acres in 13 units using shelterwood prescriptions.

In addition, the project proposes to thin approximately 42 acres, construct approximately 24 acres of wildlife openings, prescribed burn 2 areas totaling 1,258 acres and perform stream habitat improvement work in Ford Run, Pole Bar Run and Beaver Run. The Back Creek Mountain project is located 5 miles northwest of Warm Springs Virginia.

The 2012 projects look like this: Mare Run in Bath County, Little Mountain in Bath County, Mad Anne in Alleghany County and Tri County in Alleghany County. These projects are proposed for 2012 and are currently being studied. For 2013 the projects include Duncan Knob in Bath County, Lime Kiln in Bath County and Brattons Run in Alleghany County. These projects are beginning their evaluation for 2013.