USFS hosts virtual scoping meeting for proposed Cranberry-Spring Creek Project on May 6th

The public is invited to participate in a virtual scoping meeting Thursday, May 6 from 6 to 8pm  to learn about the proposed Cranberry-Spring Creek project on Monongahela National Forest’s Gauley Ranger District. This project is in the beginning stages of development.

The project area is in Nicholas, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, and Webster counties, and includes well-known features like the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, Falls of Hills Creek Scenic Area, and a section of the Highland Scenic Highway. This is the first project the Gauley District has developed as a part of the US Forest’s order of entry strategy, which looks at 5^th level watersheds holistically on a pre-determined schedule.

“This is a unique opportunity to look at the watershed as a whole, and we’re looking forward to sharing information about this proposal with the public,” said Gauley District Ranger Richard Raione. “We know how special this area is to the public, particularly for recreation, and encourage participation in this process from everyone.”

The project aims to move the project area closer to the Forest Plan desired conditions by improving forest health and age class diversity, wildlife habitat, recreation sites, and stream and riparian corridors.  They’ll do this potentially through the creation of early successional habitat, timber management, prescribed burning, recreation site improvements, and stream restoration.

During the virtual meeting, Forest staff will present background information about current forest conditions and potential management activities to address needs within the project area. Subject matter experts will be on hand to answer questions.

Information received from the public during the meeting will be used to help develop the project proposal. Written comments may be submitted Submit written comments to comments-eastern-monongahela-gauley@usda.gov, anytime within the 30-day scoping period from April 29 to May 28 either online or by mail, or mail comments to Gauley Ranger District, 932 North Fork Cherry Road, Richwood, West Virginia 26261.

Instructions for joining the meeting and the meeting handouts will be available for download on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58824 by April 29. Details will also be posted on the Forest’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MonongahelaNF/.

Written transcripts of the meeting will not be available.

For more information and to request reasonable accommodations for the virtual meeting, contact Sarah Dezelin at sarah.dezelin@usda.gov.