Forest Service briefs Afton council on proposed long-term prescribed-burn plan

Don DeLong, representing the U.S. Forest Service Greys River Ranger District, briefed the Afton Town Council on a proposed prescribed-burn project during the Jan. 12 meeting. DeLong said the project would expand treatments from Turnerville to Smoot, Wyoming, and estimated 10,000 to 15,000 acres could be treated over the next decade.

DeLong described objectives for the prescribed burn as restoring habitat balance for wildlife, reducing conifer abundance to promote aspen regeneration, and lowering the likelihood of severe wildfires in the future. He said public meetings about the project have been held. Council thanked DeLong for the update; no formal town action was taken on the presentation during the meeting.

The Forest Service presentation provided high-level project scope and ecological goals; further project planning, scheduling, and public engagement would proceed through the Forest Service's environmental-review and public-notice processes outside the town's formal code-making authority.