The U.S. Forest Service has abandoned a proposal to merge the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee national forests.
A report prepared for acting Regional Forester Marlene Finley found that a joint forest wouldn’t save enough money and would compromise management and the forest’s ability to serve nearby communities. The findings triggered the decision to cease studying a joint forest, Bridger-Teton Supervisor Jacque Buchanan said Tuesday.
“Marlene made that decision when I talked with her on Friday,” Buchanan said. “She said that ‘I think you made the case that this isn’t something that we should pursue.’”
When Harv Forsgren, the Forest Service’s now-retired region 4 forester, ordered the study in late October, he said a merger could make sense if the forests saved $1 million. The forests’ combined base budgets total $32.65 million.
The study failed to show the targeted cost savings were achievable, Buchanan said.
From JHNewsandGuide.com: https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=9476