SUNDANCE, Wyo. – The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to reduce risk of beetle infestation, mitigate future fire hazard, and restore forest vegetation in response to the Fish wildfire. The fire burned 6,793 acres, including 3,230 acres of National Forest lands, between July 31 and August 14, 2022.
The Forest Service is proposing to remove burned pine from areas of 100 percent mortality and from areas of partial mortality, while retaining trees that are likely to survive on National Forest lands. The proposed project would also include planting local ponderosa pine seedlings and protecting resprouted burned aspen from browsing, as needed.
The proposed activity area is in the northwestern Black Hills, south of Sundance, WY and includes Fish Canyon, Adams Canyon, Silver Creek, Duling Hill, and Iron Mountain. Detailed maps can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62707.
Removal and sale of merchantable material would occur. Non-merchantable cut material would be scattered, chipped, piled and burned, or otherwise treated to mitigate fire hazard. Seeding of disturbed ground and suppression of noxious weeds would occur, as needed, following tree removal and road work.
No construction of new or permanent roads would occur. Temporary roads would be decommissioned within three years of project completion.
Where necessary, tree removal would occur across other ownerships via Good Neighbor Authority agreements with the State of Wyoming, as authorized by Title VIII of the 2018 USDA Farm Bill.
Comments on the Fish Fire Recovery Project can be submitted through the comment form on the project website https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62707 and by clicking on the “Comment/Object on Project” link., which also includes more details about the proposed action. Comments can also be submitted via mail to: Attn: Fish Fire Recovery Project, Bearlodge Ranger District, P.O. Box 680, Sundance, WY 82729 or via fax at 307-283-3727. Please submit any comments by September 22, 2022.
Any questions regarding the project can be directed to Mike Gosse, Bearlodge District Ranger or Elizabeth Krueger, Natural Resources Planner by telephone, 307-283-1361, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM (MDT).
