Bartow, W.Va. (WVDN) — Monongahela National Forest is hosting an open house to share information about the actions proposed in the Draft Deer Creek Environmental Assessment with residents of the Green Bank area and other interested members of the public. The meeting will be held Wednesday, May 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Warehouse building on the Green Bank Observatory campus in Green Bank.
“We are very interested in talking about this project face-to-face with local landowners and anyone interested in the management of national forest land in the Green Bank area,” said Greenbrier District Ranger Jack Tribble. “This meeting will give us a chance to listen to concerns and also share facts to ensure everyone understands the components of the project, including intended outcomes.”
A formal presentation is not planned during the meeting and participants are free to come and go anytime from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be opportunities to talk directly with subject matter experts at stations on various topics such as watershed improvement, wildlife habitat, timber management and prescribed burning. Maps and other materials will also be shared.
Planning for the Deer Creek project began in October 2022. The 89,050-acre project area is centered on the town of Green Bank, WV in Pocahontas County and contains approximately 40,282 acres of National Forest System land. This project aims to move National Forest System land closer to the Forest Plan desired conditions by improving stream habitat, riparian corridors, and hydrologic connectivity; improving public recreation and interpretive opportunities; reducing fuel loads; encouraging oak regeneration; and improving forest diversity and wildlife habitat.
For more information and to request reasonable accommodations, contact Thomas Craig at thomas.craig@usda.gov. Additional Deer Creek project information can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/mnf/?project=60882.