Shawnee National Forest — Project Detail

Prescribed Fire Project Developing Proposal

Environmental Assessment · Shawnee National Forest · updated 5/27/2026 · decision 1/2027 (Estimated)

The entire Shawnee National Forest

The Shawnee National Forest (SNF or the Forest) proposes to restore and maintain fire-adapted ecosystems and reduce wildfire risk by applying prescribed fire at a landscape level throughout the entire Forest.

Fuels managementVegetation management (other than forest products)

NEPA Start Date

1/1/2026

Finding/Decision Date

Project documents

Jesse Riechman · jesse.riechman@usda.gov

Comments Reading room

Ameren Illinois Merlot-Grand Tower Transmission Line Rebuild In Progress

Decision Memo · Shawnee National Forest All Units · updated 1/30/2026

Jackson County, Illinois (Raddle Quad) - Kinkaid T8S, R4W, Sections 17, 20, 28, and 29. · Jackson, Illinois

Electrical Transmission Powerline Improvement - Soil Boring, Access Road Improvements, Pole Replacement, and Right-of-Way Widening

Land management planningVegetation management (other than forest products)Special use managementFacility management

Scoping Start

01/13/2026

Decision

02/2026 (Estimated)

Implementation

02/2026 (Estimated)

Project documents

Kyle Varel · kyle.varel@usda.gov

NEPA / regulatory detail

Categorical Exclusion	32.2 (2), 36 Cfr 220.6(E)(2)
Special Authority	Not Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment Regulation	Not Subject to Regulations
Project Activity	Electric Transmission
Forests	Shawnee National Forest
Districts	Shawnee National Forest All Units
Legal Land Description	Not Applicable

FSR 494 Street Road Reconstruction In Progress

Decision Memo · Shawnee National Forest All Units · updated 7/3/2025

FSR 494 Street Road (also known and referred to as Glen Street Road and Jackson Falls Road) from the intersection of the county road (Ozark Road) to the Jackson Falls parking area · Pope, Illinois

Upgrade 1.9 miles of FSR 494 Street Road (Glen Street Road, Glen Street Falls Road or Jackson Falls Road)also Jackson Falls trailhead parking area would be improved, expanded, and hardened with oil and chip pavement.

Road management

Scoping Start

07/03/2025

Decision

07/2025 (Estimated)

Implementation

08/2025 (Estimated)

Project documents

Cindy Morris · cynthia.morris1@usda.gov

NEPA / regulatory detail

Categorical Exclusion	32.2 (24), 36 Cfr 220.6(E)(24)
Special Authority	Not Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment Regulation	Not Subject to Regulations
Project Activity	Road Maintenance; Road Improvements/Construction
Forests	Shawnee National Forest
Districts	Hidden Springs Ranger District
Legal Land Description	T 11 S, R 5 E, Sections 30 and 32 and T 12 S, R 5 E, Section 5

Max Creek Salvage In Progress

Decision Memo · Shawnee National Forest All Units · updated 7/2/2025

Johnson County, approximately 6 miles north of Vienna, Illinois on Taylor Ridge Road off Highway 45. · Johnson, Illinois

Timber salvage

Vegetation management (other than forest products)

Scoping Start

07/01/2025

Decision

08/2025 (Estimated)

Implementation

08/2025 (Estimated)

Project documents

Anastacia Hanauer · anastacia.hanauer@usda.gov

NEPA / regulatory detail

Categorical Exclusion	32.2 (13), 36 Cfr 220.6(E)(13)
Special Authority	Not Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment Regulation	Not Subject to Regulations
Project Activity	Forest Vegetation Improvements; Timber Sales (Salvage)
Forests	Shawnee National Forest
Districts	Hidden Springs Ranger District
Legal Land Description	T12S., R3E., Sec 13 and T12S., R4E., Secs. 7, and 18

Oakwood Bottoms Greentree Reservoir Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project Completed

Environmental Assessment · Shawnee National Forest All Units · updated 6/17/2025

Located in Jackson County, Illinois. · Jackson, Illinois

Proposed project is a combined effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as the lead agency, and the Forest Service, as the cooperating agency to restore the natural ecosystem functions of the Oakwood Bottoms Greentree reservoir system.

Wildlife, fish, rare plantsVegetation management (other than forest products)Watershed management

Scoping Start

10/22/2020

Comment Period

10/23/2020

Objection Period Start

03/29/2025

Decision

05/2025 (Estimated)

Implementation

07/2025 (Estimated)

Project documents

Leonard Pitcher · leonard.j.pitcher@usda.gov

Comments Reading room

NEPA / regulatory detail

Special Authority	Nepa Document Prepared By Another Federal Agency
Notice and Comment Regulation	218 (2013) Non-HFRA
Project Activity	Forest Vegetation Improvements; Watershed Improvements
Forests	Shawnee National Forest
Districts	Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District
Legal Land Description	Not Applicable

Rocky Top Oak Habitat Project Completed

Environmental Assessment · Shawnee National Forest All Units · updated 6/17/2025

National forest lands near One Horse Gap in Pope County, Illinois. · Pope, Illinois

This proposal includes the removal of trees so that more sunlight will reach the forest floor, a step necessary to ensure that oak and hickory trees can successfully reproduce and grow.

Vegetation management (other than forest products)

Scoping Start

01/31/2025

Objection Period Start

03/29/2025

Decision

05/2025 (Estimated)

Implementation

07/2025 (Estimated)

Project documents

Leonard Pitcher · leonard.j.pitcher@usda.gov

Comments Reading room

NEPA / regulatory detail

Special Authority	Not Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment Regulation	Not Subject to Regulations
Project Activity	Forest Vegetation Improvements
Forests	Shawnee National Forest
Districts	Hidden Springs Ranger District
Legal Land Description	Township 11 South, Range 7 East, sections 28, 32, 33, & 3 and Township 12 South, Range 7 East, sections 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 16, and 17.