Monongahela National Forest — Project Detail

Prioritize oak forests across 3,144-acres using regeneration harvests, savannas, cutback borders, thinnings, stand improvements, and prescribed fire to reestablish natural disturbance processes, diversify age classes, improve wildlife habitat, and move the area toward Forest Plan desired conditions.

The SCG project proposes active management to increase wildlife habitat diversity, and maintain or enhance oak components within oak-pine and oak-hickory communities to provide long-term mast supplies.

This project proposes to authorize a ten-year term special use permit (SUP) to Applicant to use/maintain 27.2 acres of National Forest System land (existing Forest Road (FR) 223 and FR 249).

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

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.

The Kennison Mountain proposal seeks to improve forest health, timber stand age class diversity, create and improve wildlife habitat, enhance and expand public recreational and interpretive opportunities and improve stream habitat and watershed conditions.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.