Friday, October 30, 2009

Controlled burn proposed for Little Wood

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The Ketchum Ranger District of the Sawtooth Forest is seeking public comment on a proposed prescribed burn in the upper Little Wood River drainage.

The Forest Service announced that the project is intended to improve the health of aspen, whitebark pine and Douglas fir forests and sagebrush steppe, with the goal of reducing fire hazard and improving wildlife habitat. It stated that the burns are planned to take place over a five-10 year period.

The Forest Service stated that beginning this winter through early summer, it will develop a detailed proposed action and analyze the effects of the project on the land as well as on the users and neighbors of the Little Wood.

Matt Filbert, North Zone fuels planner, said the project is in the initial stages and at this point the agency is interested in collecting names of people who would like to be kept informed as it progresses.

Anyone who would like to receive a map showing a detailed description of the areas planned to be burned can contact Filbert at 727-5046 or e-mail him at mfilbert@fs.fed.us.

Comments on the proposal should be sent to Ketchum Ranger District, Attn: Upper Little Wood Project, Box 2356, Ketchum, ID 83340; by fax at (208) 622-3923; by e-mail to comments-intermtn-sawtooth-ketchum@fs.fed.us; or hand delivered to the Ketchum Ranger District office, 206 Sun Valley Road.