Timber Plans Are In Progress For Back Creek Mountain

Warm Springs, VA – A scoping document soliciting public comment was issued on 11/23/10. The Back Creek Mountain 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. A decision document is scheduled for the summer of 2011. The Back Creek Mountain project is located 5 miles northwest of Warm Springs Mountain.

A decision was made to prescribe burn approximately 60 acres of National Forest land adjacent to the Gathright Wildlife Management Area on the northeast side of Lake Moomaw. The ignition will be by hand. The land may be burned annually to help maintain the open field habitat that benefits species such as golden wing warbler and woodcock which are in decline in the southeastern United States. The prescribed burn is scheduled for 2012.

The Secure Rural Schools Act returns National Forest revenues to counties for natural resource projects. In some cases, the Secure Rural Schools Act requires that a Resource Advisory Committee be established to recommend how and where revenues can be spent. The USDA is currently reviewing the final nominees for the establishment of a Resource Advisory Committee to work with the George Washington-Jefferson National Forest and localities to manage projects and funding.

As soon as this work is completed, the Forest Service expects to begin the process of planning and implementing projects with the counties in conjunction with the new Resource Advisory Committees.