Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Timber sale aims to improve forest health near Sundance

The Bearlodge Ranger District of the Black Hills National Forest is working with Wyoming State Forestry Division to treat insect- and disease-infected trees, reduce hazardous fuels and restore or improve forest, watershed or rangeland conditions and wildlife habitat. 

The Wonder 1 Timber Sale has been announced as part of this collaborative effort and by utilizing the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), which was authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. The sale will treat almost 900 acres of public land that will provide an estimated 5,499 CCF in saw timber volume (1 CCF = 100 cubic feet). 

The US Forest Service wrote the prescriptions for the timber sale and the State of Wyoming completed the layout and sale of the timber. This is the second GNA timber sale the Bearlodge Ranger District has completed with the state of Wyoming.

The Wonder 1 timber sale is located in the “addition country” of the Bearlodge Ranger District. This is a series of roughly 20 small isolated parcels of federal land that is surrounded by state and private property located about 15 miles west of Sundance, Wyoming.

Bearlodge District Ranger, Mike Gosse stated, “Working collaboratively with the State of Wyoming on these GNA timber sales greatly enhances our capacity to get timber harvested, reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires, and insect and disease outbreaks. It has been a valuable experience to work closely with the state so these isolated parcels of federal land may be treated.”

Wyoming District Forester Dick Terry said, “The Good Neighbor Authority is an excellent tool that strengthens partnerships with the State and the USFS as we continue to work together to treat the forest. It’s really a win-win for the State of Wyoming and the USFS.”

The Bearlodge Ranger District and the State of Wyoming Forestry Division continue to look for other isolated parcels of public land for future Good Neighbor Authority timber sales.