Monongahela National Forest — Project Detail

Timber stand improvement activities would be conducted on approx. 908 acres; releasing approx. 50-75 crop trees per acre on stands aged 6-15 years old, ranging from 15-42 acres. Activities include hand felling only, no herbicide use or road construction is needed. Estimated decision date: Sept. 2026

Proposal to incorporate existing social climber access trails as system trails at Seneca Rocks (1.17 mi), Guide Walls (0.13 mi), and Reeds Creek (0.27 mi). Reroutes of the Landis Trail (approx. 4.31 miles; 5 reroutes). Creation of the new Roy Gap Trail (0.17 miles). Estimated decision: June 2026

Decommissioning an existing communication tower and associated structure at the Spruce Knob Communication site. Proposal includes either temporary existing road widening or short administrative site access construction.

Proposal to use commercial (237 acres) and non-commercial (94 acres) silvicultural treatments on non-native conifer plantations to reestablish native red spruce and northern hardwood forests. Project documents can be found here: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/pamynhlouw6uv2vgv22d3g9iavkrtpej

The purpose of the Headwaters Red Spruce Restoration project is to maintain existing red spruce stands and increase the extent of red spruce influenced ecosystems in strategic locations within the Gauley Ranger District for improved habitat connectivity at the landscape scale.

Friends of Blackwater received a grant through Office of Surface Mining (OSMRE, administered by WVDEP) to develop this project to promote hiking, biking and tourism in the Blackwater River area by creating a loop trail to link the towns of Davis & Thomas. PALS:#60885. OSMRE is the lead agency.

Proposal for approximately 15 miles of dual-purpose bike and hiking trails stretching between the Stuart Recreation Area and Bickle Knob. Proposal also includes two overlooks, improved parking areas, and constructing two trail bridges. Originally under PALS #67963.

Proposal to drain the ElkLick Run Reservoir in the Fernow Experimental Forest and partially remove the associated dam. Also includes stream restoration around the Experimental Forest with large woody material additions and culvert replacements.

The Ruckers Gap Prescribed Burn project proposes timber stand and wildlife habitat improvement activities through prescribed burning and mechanical vegetation treatments across 1400 acres.

The WV Division of Highways has applied to use 0.6 acres of Monongahela National Forest System lands to access an existing easement to perform repair work related to Swallow Rock Bridge.

Proposal to allow the State Department of Highways to decommission a roadside park off State Route 72, near St. George. This includes removal of the picnic shelter, fire pits, and rupturing/backfilling the remnants of the vault toilets.

This project aims to remove a dense, aging white pine plantation in order to provide a short-term early successional (high stem) habitat for wildlife species, and ultimately restore a mixed oak forest community in its place.

This project seeks to improve stream habitat, riparian corridors, and hydrologic connectivity, improve public recreation and interpretive opportunities, reduce fuel loads, encourage oak regeneration, and improve forest diversity and wildlife habitat.

Replacement of the current single plank trail bridge close to the Shaver's Fork Trail Head with a safer and slightly longer SAWN TIMBER TRAIL BRIDGE (single stringer).

Discing, planting of native species, and fruit tree pruning over 17 acres, within 15 existing wildlife openings. Maintenance of Forest Roads 774 and 774B including two small culvert installations. Partnered with WVDNR.

Proposal to erect a 90ft tower within an existing helicopter landing on the Fernow Experimental Forest. The tower would house sensors measuring gas exchange for use in research by the US Forest Service's Northern Research Station.

Needs exist in the project area include wildlife habitat improvement. Possible treatments include vegetation management and prescribed fire.

Includes a 1/2 mile of trail construction/reconstruction at Olson tower. Also includes parking improvements and creation of a 0.3 acre overlook near the tower.

Proposal to adopt and reroute socially made and existing Forest Service system features to create additional equestrian riding loops on the Greenbrier ranger district. Features include trails and roads.

This proposal includes new construction of approximately 2.89 miles of standard multi-use hiking and biking connector trails within the already existing Mower Basin Trail System.

Improvements to parking sites along the eastern boundary of the Dolly Sods Scenic Area. Includes expansion, hardening, signage, new trail adoptions to the yellow birch tree/ North Fork overlooks, and decommissioning of the Forest Road 19 picnic area.

New trail construction/connectors/trailheads around Peters Mtn, Rohrbaugh Cabin, Seneca Shadows, and North Fork Mtn Trail. Establish Forest Road (FR) 274 as a system trail, parking expansions at the FR 742, Rohrbaugh cabin, and FR 274 trailheads.

Restoration of two cabins to turn into public rentals. Composting or pit toilets would be installed at both sites. The Hartmann Cabin requires 600' of new trail construction to access the North Fork Mtn. Trail.

Proposed prescribed fire burn in the Fernow Experimental Forest for water quality research and wildlife habitat improvement.

This project proposes the construction of 6.4 miles of sustainable multiple use singletrack trail system and the conversion of about 1.5 miles of an old woods road to a 36-inch wide doubletrack trail near Marlinton, WV.

Webster County Economic Development Authority is seeking a special use permit to install and maintain new aerial fiber line along existing utility corridors and roads. This project will intersect 200 feet (0.05 acres) of Forest Service lands.

This project aims to move the Upper Cheat watershed closer to the Forest Plan desired conditions by improving forest health & age class diversity, providing recreation opportunities, and improving wildlife habitat & stream/riparian conditions.

The goals of the proposed action include improving forest health and resiliency, restoring red spruce/northern hardwood forests, improving wildlife habitat and increasing age class diversity based on the specific Forest Plan Desired Future Conditions

Create early successional wildlife habitat by mulching and enhance tree regeneration for species preferred by wildlife.

This project proposes to issue a temporary construction permit to the WVDOH for use of a 0.37-acre staging area during replacement of the Roy Gap bridge.

A 1.1 mile section of the Allegheny Trail would receive grading and aggregation placement to allow WV DNR periodic access to stock the Glady Fork River.

Placement of a free-standing radio tower on Bell Knob.