Forest service planning open houses

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Hoosier National Forest officials will conduct an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Brownstown Central High School, 500 N. Elm St., to discuss a forest management project proposal in northwestern Jackson County.

This area, known as the Houston South Vegetation Management and Restoration Project, involves treating vegetation and conducting related management activities to improve forest health and increase sustainability of oak-hickory ecosystems while also improving wildlife habitat.

The project would move the forest toward its desired future condition as identified in the 2006 Hoosier National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. The majority of the project area is in the northwest corner of Jackson County in the Brownstown Ranger District. Maps and project details can be viewed online at fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55119.

During the planning and analysis process, there also may be a need to repair poorly maintained roads, trails and eroded areas and replace undersized and obsolete infrastructure that prohibits upstream movement of aquatic species.

If approved, implementation of the project would occur over the span of approximately 10 years or longer.

A second open house is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington.

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