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Projects
Projects
Projects are designed to move the forest towards the desired conditions described in the Forest Plan. Projects and activities are subject to environmental analysis to assure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Site-specific projects include such activities as reconstructing developed recreation campgrounds, prescribed burning in the wildland urban interface, and harvesting timber to increase habitat for wildlife.
You are invited to become involved in the planning and environmental analysis of national forest projects.
A quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions is our way of keeping you informed and involved in our projects. It gives you early notice of upcoming projects that you may find an interest in. It also updates you on the status of projects currently undergoing environmental analysis. If you find a project you are interested in, please contact the Responsible Official associated with that project so you can become involved in the environmental analysis and documentation process.
George Washington and Jefferson National Forest Current and Recent Projects
Developing Proposal
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2024 Forestwide Maintenance of Open and Semi Open Lands, Roadside, and Utility Corridors
This project pertains to the open maintenance of 14,000 acres of permanent grass and shrublands, 61,000 acres of road corridors, and 4,000 acres of existing gas and power line utility rights-of-way across the entire Forest.
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Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail Reconstruction Project
Project seeks to reconstruct and address damage incurred to the Virginia Creeper Trail as a result of Hurricane Helene damage.
Under Analysis
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Southern Appalachian Watershed Resiliency Project
The Southern Appalachian Forests(Cherokee National Forest, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, National Forests in North Carolina and Chattahoochee - Oconee National Forest seek to implement large landscape watershed resiliency efforts.
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2022 KU/ODP Powerline Rebuild Project
Kentucky Utilities Company d/b/a Old Dominion Power Company (KU/ODP) is proposing to replace 28 69kV electrical transmission line poles within an existing right-of-way across the Jefferson NF in Wise County, VA
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Archer Knob Project
The USFS is proposing to move the project area toward Forest Plan desired conditions to increase the resilience and proper function of ecological systems while providing for species diversity, soil and water conservation, and sustainable recreation.
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Bedford and Shenandoah County Fiber Optic Project
This proposal would bring fiber optic connection to underserved rural areas in Bedford and Shenandoah Counties of western Virginia.
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Belfast Trail Parking Lot
Development of an expanded parking lot for a popular trailhead to improve public safety and provide additional parking for 40 - 60 vehicles, including ADA compliant spaces.
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Brunswick Woodland Restoration Project
This project consists of forest management activities over approximately 126 acres. Activities include commercial thinning of timber, non-commercial stand improvement cutting, mechanical brush control, and prescribed burning.
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Devils Hens Nest Vegetation Project
The Devils Hens Nest Vegetation Project will address the difference between current conditions as they exist on the ground and the desired conditions described in the Jefferson Forest Plan.
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Dominion Energy Cave Mountain Lake and St. Mary's Woods Underground Facilities
Special Use Permit amendment to authorize Dominion Energy of VA to replace overhead electrical power tap line with underground cable in conduit primarily along existing roads.
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Dunlap Creek Vegetation Management Project
Proposal for regeneration and thinning harvest treatments, forest stand improvement, wildlife opening expansion, and prescribed burning on three management units totaling roughly 3,800 acres.
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Hunters Valley Intigrated Vegetation Management Project
Integrated resource project on the Clinch Ranger District.
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Jennings Creek Watershed Project
The purpose of this project is to increase the resilience and proper function of ecological systems within the watershed while providing for forest structural diversity, species diversity, soil and water conservation, and sustainable recreation.
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Little Mountain Prescribed Fire Project
Application of prescribed fire across approximately 2,674 acres.
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Mad Lick Forest Resiliency and Restoration Project
The North River Ranger District is proposing a project to move the area toward the desired future conditions described in the 2014 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the George Washington National Forest.
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North Zone Prescribed Fire and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Project
The project proposal includes prescribed fire on 4,500 acres and mechanical vegetation treatments on 85 acres within 7 individual locations across the North River and Lee Ranger Districts on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
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Panther Knob Prescribed Fire Project
Proposal for 6 prescribed fire units on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area on the Jefferson National Forest
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Pine Mountain East Rx Fire Project
The Forest Service is proposing the 726-acre Birch Knob, the 815-acre Skegg Branch, and the 1,034-acre Cable Gap prescribed burns on the Clinch Ranger District.
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Red Spruce Restoration Project
The Cherokee National Forest, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Monongahela National Forest, and the National Forests in North Carolina seek to implement large landscape red spruce - fir ecosystem restoration.
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Yellow Branch Ecosystem Restoration Project
The project proposes management activities over an approximately 134-acre project area, including thinning of timber, stand improvement cutting, dead wood and structural enhancement treatments, and prescribed burning.
Analysis Completed
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Bland County Water System Improvements Project
Federal authorization to cross National Forest land is needed to allow for the construction of an interconnecting waterline that will provide water service to over 400 residential customers in Bland / Rocky Gap and along the Route 42 corridor.
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Forest Road Management Changes Glade Mountain FS86
Seasonal Road Closures as conditions warrant, for resource protection and public safety
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Mountain Valley Pipeline and Equitrans Expansion Project Supplemental EIS
In 2022 the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the FS decision for this project. A supplemental EIS is being prepared. The decision to be made is whether to amend the JNF Forest Plan to make the project compliant with the Plan.
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Spongy Moth Suppression Project
Forest Service is proposing to conduct suppression treatments to reduce high-severity defoliation caused by the non-native, invasive spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth).
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White Pine Removal Project
A focused forest restoration project to convert planted upland white pine stands to more site-suitable native forest communities.
On Hold
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Currin Glade Vegetation Management
The project will address factors contributing to reduced forest health and poor habitat quality by improving forest resilience against environmental stressors while increasing species and structural diversity across the landscape.
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Forestwide Maintenance of Open and Semi Open Lands, Roadside Corridors, and Utility Rights-of-Way
This project pertains to the open maintenance of 14,000 acres of permanent grass and shrublands, 59,000 acres of road corridors, and 6,500 acres of existing gas and power line utility rights-of-way across the entire Forest.
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Forestwide Programmatic Fiberoptic Telecommunication Line Special Use Project
This is a programmatic Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice to issue special use permits to fiberoptic telecommunication companies that meet certain project criteria.
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Fox Creek Horse Camp Vault Toilet Installation
Installation of a vault toilet to replace rental port-a-johns.
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Paddy Knob Early Successional Habitat
Create early successional habitat in the vincinity of Paddy Knob.
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Pine Mountain Trail Reroute
Pine Mountain Trail reroutes need to be done in the Doubles and Bryant Gap areas to get the trail off of private property.
Cancelled
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Border Restoration Project
Prescribe burn 31,475 acres within 23 areas on National Forest and VDGIF property as part of the Appalachian Fire Learning Network.
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Briery Branch Dam Rehabilitation
Rehabilitate dam to be in compliance with dam safety. This project is on hold pending funding.
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Burruss Tract Habitat Improvement and Access Project
Construct approximately one mile of grass/forb wildlife linear strip that will connect managed old field areas for administrative access on the Burruss Tract in Bland County, Virginia.
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Clinch RD Road Daylighting
The proposed treatment would involve the removal of trees along approximately 9.6 miles of Forest Service roads. This day lighting treatment would include approximately 70 acres of commercial timber harvest.
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Crawfish Valley Wildlife Habitat
Early successional habitat maintenance for a wide variety of wildlife including the American Woodcock and Golden-winged Warblers.
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Davis Valley Wildlife Habitat Enhancement and stream restoration
Early successional habitat enhancement and stream restoration of Dry Run.
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Devil's Fork Loop Trailhead Parking Lot and Connector Trail
Devil's Fork Loop Trailhead Parking Lot and Connector Trail
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Eastern Divide Forest Timber Stand Improvement Project
Within the stands proposed for the pre-commercial thinning treatments there is a need to increase structural diversity; maintain species diversity; increase the vigor of released trees both to make them less vulnerable to disease and insect attacks.
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Elkhorn Rx
Prescribed burn on the 1,100 acre Elkhorn burn unit.
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Fiber Optic Line on Warm Spring Mountain
Bury approximately 12,000 feet of fiber optic cable in an existing utility corridor.
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First Mountain Project
The project name has been changed from its original name (Peterfish Gap Salvage)on the last SOPA report. Salvage dead and dying trees as a result of Shipwrech wildfire; improve wildlife habitat
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Flatwoods Vegetation Treatment Project
Fire management, Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants, Forest products, Vegetation management (other than forest products), Road management
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Gate Mountain Timber Sale
Commercial timber sale on approximately 400 acres to improve habitat conditions for various wildlife species.
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George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Oak and Woodland Restoration Project
This is a forestwide project focused on the management of white pine stands across the Forest to increase desired mast producing hardwood species or native yellow pine. This EA will provide the framework for project selection and implementation.
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Hearthstone Dam Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation to bring the dam into State of Virginia compliance standards
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Hidden Valley Campground Host Site Improvements
Upgrade Hidden Valley Campground host with an electrical hookup.
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Hone Quarry Dam Rehabilitation
Rehabilitate dam for high hazard compliance. Dam owned by Shenandoah Valley Soil & Water Conservation District. Dam crest needs to be raised and new spillway. This project is on hold pending funding.
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National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Climate Change Study
NEON will gather long term data on ecological responses to changes in climate through field data collection.
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Newton Tract Plan
Improve and maintain fish and wildlife habitat. Area located in Shenandoah County about 13 miles west of Woodstock, VA
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North Shenandoah Mountain Restoration and Management Project
This is a duplicate project of Project Number 50342 so this one is cancelled.
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North Zone Fire Wood Sales and Road Day-lighting
Daylight approximately 15-25 miles of road on the Lee and NR Districts to improve road conditions, wildlife habitat and reduce fuels
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North Zone Miscellaneous reforestation projects
This project is a duplicate so the status on this quarter's SOPA report will show as 'Cancelled'.
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North Zone Reforestation and Maintenance 2016 and 2017
100 acres of reforestation and 150 acres of maintenance of past planting areas.
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Pine Mountain Vegetation Treatment Project
Wildlife habitat improvements, prescribed burning, timber harvest, trail work and noxious weed eradication. Acreages to be determined.
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Plan Amendment for the George Washington NF LRMP for Rx5C Reallocation for Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
If FS authorizes ACP pipeline and issues a special use permit, the new utility corridor must be reallocated to Rx5C-Designated Utility Corridors. The GWNF is no longer proposing this amendment for the ACP Project.
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Plan Amendment to the Jefferson NF for Land Allocation Change with Mountain Valley Pipeline Project
This amendment is no longer proposed for the MVP project.
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Renewal of Transmission and Distribution Powerlines
Multiple lines for AEP
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Roads Management
Change travel management status (opening and closing dates on selected roads) across the district.
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South Archer Project
Several hundred acres of thinning and regeneration treatments to improve wildlife habitat.
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Special Use Authorization Renewal for Outfitting & Guiding on the Mount Rogers NRA
Special Use Authorization for the renewal of Outfitting & Guiding permit for horseback riding on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
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Verizon Virginia Fiber Optic Line
Installation of Fiber Optic Line in existing utility corridor.
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Wallace and Marshall Tracts Prescribed Burns
Rx burn about 276 acres on the Wallace Tract and 56 acres on the Marshall Tract for wildlife habitat improvement and convert areas from cool season grasses to warm season grasses.
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Wallen Ridge Hazardous Fuels Project
Prescribed Fire to Improve Forest Health, Yellow Pine Regeneration and Reduce Hazardous Fuels in Urban interface (WUI).
Project Archive
Some of our older projects can be accessed in our Project Archive.