PRESS RELEASE
MEEKER | The White River National Forest is seeking public comments on a proposed wildlife habitat improvement project that would treat up to 14,121 acres of National Forest System lands in the Blanco Ranger District southeast of Meeker over the next 15 to 20 years.
The Southwest Blanco Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Project would use a combination of prescribed fire, mechanical and hand cutting of shrubs and trees, weeding, and seeding and planting to create more diversity in size and ages of aspen and mountain shrubs.
“This project would increase the amount feeding areas for elk, mule deer and other wildlife species while maintaining important habitat these species use for cover,” said Blanco District Ranger Curtis Keetch.
A secondary benefit of opening the thick, continuous stands of aspen and mountain shrubs is reducing fuels, which would lessen the intensity of unwanted, large wildfires and give firefighters a place to more effectively engage wildfires when necessary.
Vegetation treatment would occur within a total proposed 37,810-acre project area comprised of four treatment units in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. The project would not exceed 500 acres of mechanical/hand/weeding treatments per year and 1,000 acres of prescribed fire per year, with the total combined treatments not to exceed 1,500 acres per year for the entire project area.
More information, including maps and information about how to comment, is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65795. Comments will be most helpful if received by April 24, 2024.
