Bighorn NF Invasive and Other Select Plant Management Project Proceeds With Changes

As the final phase in the Invasive and Other Select Plant Management project, Bighorn National Forest officials recently concluded an objection resolution meeting with several objectors. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

The resolution meeting resulted in officials pulling the treatment of native plant species including mountain big sagebrush and duncecap larkspur from the final decision, which was the common point of objection. There is still a need to achieve a desired mix of structural stages for sagebrush.

Previous National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents outlined in Table 2-1 of the Final Environmental Impact Statement currently allows a variety of treatment options on roughly 42 percent of the sagebrush habitat on the Bighorn National Forest. The existing NEPA does not include aerial application of herbicides on sagebrush. The Forest agrees more work was needed on the analysis of this portion of the proposal and may pursue this option in another project.

The Responsible Official is planning to implement the portions of Alternative Two that propose to treat non-native invasive plant species on the Bighorn National Forest using a condition-based and integrated invasive plant treatment strategy. A Final Record of Decision will be issued in the next few months clarifying the treatment options.

For more information, contact the Powder River Ranger District at 307.684.7806 or Thad
Berrett, project lead, at wayne.t.berrett@usda.gov.