WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The Monroe County Council has requested more time for public comment on a logging and controlled burn project planned for the Hoosier National Forest. The project spans parts of Jackson and Lawrence Counties, and could impact water quality at Lake Monroe.
Speaking in the council’s meeting yesterday, County Council President Shelli Yoder said she has stressed the importance of adequate public input to Hoosier Forest Supervisor Michael Chaveaz.
The project’s 30-day public comment period is set to close on December 26th, 2018.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the proposed project is meant to improve wildlife habitat, repair roads, and improve stream viability. It will QUOTE ” reduce the amount of non-native pines…to encourage oak and hickory stands to provide a more suitable habitat to a wider array of wildlife species.” UNQUOTE
The project is in what’s called a scoping period, where forest officials work on how to best accomplish forest management goals. But members of the public are being asked to provide supporting documentation for their input.
The proposed project includes four thousand acres of logging activity, and prescribed burns over another ten to twelve thousand acres.
The Council asked for a reply no later than December 15, 2018. If the project is ultimately approved, the Forest Service said it will be carried out in phases over a ten year period.
