Bighorn National Forest officials are inviting the public to two rescheduled public meetings to discuss a draft plan for managing invasive and other plants.

The public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Invasive and Other Select Plant Management Project began June 26 and continues for the following 45 days. Comments will be accepted through Aug. 9.

The in-person public meetings will be held:

• Monday, July 26 — 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Whitney Commons Park in Sheridan, 320 W. Alger in Sheridan

• Tuesday, July 27 — 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Big Horn County Weed and Pest Office in Greybull, 4782 Highway 310

Invasive plant species like the Medusahead and Ventenata grasses threaten native plant and wildlife habitat, undermine the health of watersheds and increase wildfire risk, Bighorn officials say. 

They recently prohibited off-road travel along the Grouse Mountain Road — Forest System Road (FSR) 402 on the Powder River Ranger District — to try limiting the spread of ventenata. It’s a non-native, highly aggressive, invasive grass species that’s new to the Great Plains region and requires treatment to either slow its spread or eradicate. The area known as Grouse Mountain along FSR 402 from its intersection with Highway 16 leading southeast contains the only known location of Ventenata on the Bighorn National Forest.

“Increased vehicle use within the grassland surrounding FSR 402 has been alarming,” said Acting Powder River District Ranger Silas Davidson. “Forest managers recognize that these vehicles and people could be collecting seed inadvertently in their tires, undercarriage of vehicles, their shoes and clothing, and in pet’s hair. These seeds could be transported to other locations where this invasive species does not exist.”

Bighorn National Forest personnel are concerned about the spread of Ventenata in the forest and throughout the region. The Bighorn National Forest is a well-traveled corridor between Yellowstone National Park and forests and parks in the Black Hills area, providing potential opportunity for Ventenata to spread to these well-known ecologically important regions. 

In the forest’s plant management project project, Bighorn officials are proposing to use a full spectrum of available tools to treat invasive species and manage their spread. Options include education, mechanical pulling, aerial and ground-based herbicide application, biological agents and managing native species with mowing, prescribed fire and herbicides. The proposal also includes the use of herbicides, forest officials say would achieve a desired future condition for habitat structural stages of mountain big sagebrush, while balancing wildlife habitat diversity and livestock foraging opportunities.

More information on the Invasive and Other Select Plant Management Project is available at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57457 or by contacting Chris Jones at 307-674-2627 or christopher.d.jones@usda.gov.

To comment, use the instructions listed in the Federal Register notice or email comments-bighorn@usda.gov with “Invasive and Other Select Plant Management Project” in the subject line. Comments may also be submitted by mail to: Forest Supervisor, 2013 Eastside 2nd St., Sheridan, WY 82801, or faxed to 307-674-2668.