George Washington Forest Plan To Be Released In Early May

Warm Springs, VA – The Forest Plan is ready for release. This is District Ranger Patrick Sheridan from the James River and Warm Springs Ranger Districts.

A draft revision of the George Washington Forest Plan is at the Government Printing Office and is scheduled to be released in early May 2011. Public meetings will occur to answer questions and take additional public comment during the spring/summer 2011. 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.

An update on forest management planning: An environmental analysis and decision document was signed on March 31, 2011, for the Central Alleghany project located in the Jerrys Run, Big Run, and Ogle Creek drainages of Alleghany County. The Decision Notice is subject to appeal through April 29. The project proposes to regenerate approximately 155 acres in 9 harvest units using shelterwood prescriptions. In addition, the project will construct 3 wildlife openings totaling 7 acres, propose prescribe burning on 829 acres, build 4 dispersed camping sites, and conduct timber stand improvement on 55 acres.

A Decision Notice for the Back Creek project was also signed on March 31, 2011. The 45 day appeal period concludes on May 15th, 2011. This project proposes to harvest timber on 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, proposes prescribed fire on 2 areas totaling 1,258 acres, and performs 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.