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The Bridger-Teton National Forest is beginning to seek public input for the next stage in planning for a forest restoration effort in the LaBarge Creek watershed. With 3,419-acres of mechanical treatments and 4,628-acres of prescribed burning, the planning team needs the knowledge and thoughts of everyone who knows this area in order to create the most useful project for meeting the 1990 Bridger-Teton Forest Plan desired conditions.

The planning task began with determining and defining the existing and desired conditions of the project area’s vegetation. The scoping letter was post-marked April 14th, 2011 to solicit public comments. Comments referring to the scoping letter and its attached documents are due by May 14th, 2011. The formal 30-day comment period will be at a later date.

Interested public may find additional information on the proposed project at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf/proiects/ including a complete collection of maps and more detailed project specification.

The proposed project is located on the Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger- Teton National Forest in Lincoln and Sublette Counties is southwestern Wyoming. Due to decades of fire suppression, the forest landscape in this area of the Bridger-Teton consists of uniform dense forests susceptible to insect, disease, and wildfire mortality. Large-scale beetle epidemics have killed much of the mature lodgepole, whitebark pine, limber pine, and Douglas-fir. Fuel levels are increasing while vegetative diversity and the scenic value of a diverse landscape are declining. In addition, standing dead trees along travel corridors are a threat to public safety.

If you would like more information or further detail on the proposed action, direct questions to Samuel Ainsley, Project Manager, at (307) 828-5107, Tracy Hollingshead at (307) 828-5110, or by email at comments-intermtn-bridger-teton-kemmerer@fs.fed.us.