WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The National Forest Service is proposing a forest management project for the Hoosier National Forest.
The Forest Service is looking for public comment on their proposal to log 4,000 acres from the Hoosier National Forest. This includes 400 acres just south of the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area in Monroe County.
The project is called the Houston South Vegetation Management and Restoration Project. The Forest Service reports their goal is to improve forest health, promote oak and hickory ecosystems, and restore wildlife habitats.
The project would involve logging and vegetation changes to the Hoosier National Forest, with clear cutting expected to occur in the northwest corner of Jackson County and the northeast corner of Lawrence County, south of Lake Monroe.
No official decisions have been made on the status of the project, however forest Service officials are inviting the public to comment on their proposal. If approved, the Forest Service hopes to reduce the amount of non-native pine trees and to diversify ground vegetation.
Currently, the Forest Service, a federal organization in charge of natural resources, says Hoosier National Forest is dominated in areas by non-native pine trees, which block out native ground bushes trees and shrubs. The Forest Services hopes that by clearing pinewood dominated areas, they’ll be able to enhance the ecosystems of The Hoosier.
The Forest Service has stated it is also considering repairing roads, trails, and eroded areas in-and-around Hoosier National Forest.
But the Houston South restoration project isn’t without its controversies. Environmentalists in the area have already gone head-to-head against the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ decision to log Yellowwood State Forest at this time last year.
Jeff Stant, executive director of the Indiana Forest Alliance, says the proposed clear cutting of some 400 acres south of Lake Monroe will harm area water quality and hurt rather than help the ecosystem.
He says that the loggings should replicate what will happen naturally to the forest over time. Clear cutting, which is the cutting of all trees in a area, will not do that.
The Forest Service is taking public comment on the proposal from now until December 26th. Written comments may be submitted by letter, email, or fax. The forest service asks anyone who leaves a comment to include their names, addresses, telephone, and email, if available. The Forest Service asks that you include “Houston South Vegetation Management and Restoration Project” in your comment as well.
Mail to:
Hoosier National Forest, ATTN: Houston South Vegetation Management and Restoration Project;
811 Constitution Ave.
Bedford, IN 47421
Fax:
(812) 279-3423
ATTN: Houston South Vegetation Management and Restoration Project
Email:
[email protected]
Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), Word (.doc or .docx) or Portable Document Format (.pdf) to [email protected]. Comments must have an identifiable name attached or verification of identity will be required. A scanned signature may serve as verification on electronic comments.
In Person:
They can be left with the Hoosier National Forest Office in Bedford, or by telephone at (812)-275-5987.
