On May 3, Black Hills National Forest Supervisor Craig Bobzien approved the following activities for the Dean project area: commercial thinning, overstory removal, mature stand enhancement, precommercial thinning, patch cuts, shelterwood seed cut, mechanical fuel treatment, prescribed fire, hardwood restoration, oak removal and pine removal from riparian areas.
The Dean project area covers approximately 12,468 acres of National Forest System land and 2,356 acres of interspersed private land in Crook County, Wyoming.
Approximately 23 miles of unclassified roads will be decommissioned as funding allows, five miles of new road will be constructed, 10 miles reconstructed, and approximately 67 miles maintained. A portion of the project area (approximately 6,100 acres) will also be closed to off-road, motorized travel year-round, with the remainder of the project area open to off-road, motorized travel seasonally from August 1 through April 30.The Black Hills Pioneer
