Timber Sale Projects And Spring Prescribed Burns Underway In The Warm Springs And James River Ranger Districts

Warm Springs, VA – Timber Sale Projects at Work. This is District Ranger Patrick Sheridan with the monthly report from the James River and Warm Springs Ranger Districts

Timber sale contracts are active on Back Creek Mountain in Bath County and on the So Big and Humpback projects in Alleghany County. Timber projects to be sold in 2012 include Mares Run in Bath County and Tri County in Alleghany. Timber management areas being planned for 2013 and beyond are Little Mountain in Bath, Mad Anne in Alleghany, Duncan Knob in Bath, Lime Kiln in Bath and Bratton’s Run in Alleghany.

Two more prescribed burns have been accomplished since the last Alleghany Mountain Radio update. In addition to the 65 acres of Hidden Valley grassfield, a portion of Big Wilson on Warm Springs Mountain for 1,500 acres in Bath County and 780 acres of the Tar Jacket unit in Nelson County were accomplished. Although the weather has been unseasonably warm, not enough drying weather is occurring between rain events. A 25 acre wildfire on March 22 near Falling Springs caused some down time as well.

Approximately 10,000 acres of prescribed fire is planned for the Warm Springs and James River Districts for the 2012 season, which typically occurs in March and April. A total of seven prescribed burn areas ranging from 60 to 5,827 acres are planned for ignition by hand and helicopter.

The final George Washington Forest Plan is scheduled for release in May of 2012. The comment period for the Draft Forest Plan closed October 2011. A draft revision of the plan was released in May 2011. Evaluations, analysis and information discussed at all the previous meetings are available on our website.