The objective of the project is to slow the spread of insects in this heavily forested area that is intermingled with several homes and tracts of private land. An infestation of mountain pine beetles, the same insects that decimated the Beaver Park area a few years ago, will be treated by an aggressive combination of direct attack (removing infested trees) and thinning tree stands to promote trees that are more healthy and insect resistant.
The Bugtown Gulch project is the first in the Black Hills National Forest to be implemented under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003 . This legislation allows the Forest Service to approve insect and fuel-control projects in a streamlined manner that requires potential project opponents to surface potential problem areas up front.
In addition to providing a more healthy forest, the trees removed will be used for home construction and other wood products traditionally produced by the Black Hills forest products industry.
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