Forest Service Considers Options For Fall Timber Management

Warm Springs, VA – Fire staff on the Warm Springs and James River Ranger Districts are evaluating new areas for possible prescribed fire treatments. Considerable time is being spent looking at National Forest lands along the Virginia and West Virgina border from I 64 north to State Route 250. A proposal is expected to be released for public comment in 2011.

The Gilbert Lumber Company was the high bidder in late August for the Humpback Timber Sale. The objective of the Humpback timber sale, located in Alleghany County, is to capture timber mortality caused by gypsy moth defoliation in 2009 and to regenerate red oak on 221 acres of National Forest. The timber sale terminates December 15, 2013.

The fall availability of campgrounds is as follows: Closed for the season at Lake Moomaw are Morris Hill, Campground 3, Sugar Ridge campgrounds, and the swimming beach. Campgrounds 1 at Lake Moomaw and Hidden Valley will close on November 29. Campground 2 at Lake Moomaw will be open into late December. McClintic Point Campground at Lake Moomaw will be open year round.

The Recovery Act is providing funding for road repair work on National Forest roads in Alleghany County. Culvert replacement and new arches are being installed. The Tri County road is closed to the public until repair work is completed, roughly between October 11 and November 11.

The scoping document soliciting public comment for the Central Alleghany project was released in early September. This project proposes 155 acres of shelterwood timber harvest, 829 acres of prescribed fire, 61 acres of timber stand improvement, 3 wildlife clearings, and 4 dispersed campsites. The Central Alleghany Timber Sale is located in western Alleghany County. Initial scoping comments will be accepted through October 22.