Next phase of Monument Ridge Vegetation and Recreation Management Project to begin
by Bridger-Teton National Forest
May 21, 2024
BIG PINEY, WYOMING — The Big Piney Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest plans to initiate the next phase of the Monument Ridge Vegetation and Recreation Management Project during the month of June. The project area is located near the town of Bondurant in Sublette County. The habitat/fuels treatment area is situated within the wildland urban interface (WUI), an area where human development meets with undeveloped, natural areas like forests and wildland vegetation, creating a zone that is at risk for wildfires. Monument Ridge borders the western edge of the treatment area, and the residential area along the Hoback River borders the eastern edge.
The project, proposed by the Sublette County Collaborative, is multifaceted and includes fuels reduction actions within the WUI, wildlife habitat enhancement activities, and safety and access improvements for recreation. These activities will improve forest health; promote wildlife populations for elk, mule deer, and sage grouse; and provide sustainable recreation opportunities well into the future.
Fire managers plan for implementation of the project to occur in June on 2,150-acres north of the Monument Ridge Lookout and Hoback Guard Station. The Forest Service prepared this area in 2020 by felling trees and allowing the fuels to cure during the subsequent time, preparing an adequate fuel bed for the planned prescribed fire.
The Forest Service will implement the prescribed fire with weather and conditions to meet project objectives. Forest personnel plan to treat the area in a mosaic pattern, producing a complex mix of burned and unburned patches. These activities will enhance wildlife habitat by increasing forage (i.e., grass, forbs, and shrubs) and will stimulate aspen growth in areas where stands have declined due to the lack of wildfire.
During operations, smoke may be visible from the communities of Bondurant, Jackson, Pinedale, and Big Piney. Resources will implement ignitions over the course of three to five days. A Closure Order will be in effect for the impacted area, roads, and trails, during the prescribed burn.
For more information, call Big Piney Ranger District at (307) 267-3375 or visit https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/dispatch/wy-tdc/home/information/prescribed-fires.
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