JACKSON, Wyo. — On Tuesday, Sept. 15, United States Forest Service (USFS) treated 185 acres of land in an effort to restore aspen stands by reducing the encroachment of conifer trees, and to minimize fuel for future wildfires. That effort continues today, Sept. 16, with another prescribed burn.

The burn will occur in the Beaver Creek area near June Creek and Skyline Ridge roads, and will “include both ground-based hand ignitions and aerial ignitions using a helicopter,” according to a USFS Facebook post.

Smoke will likely be visibly from Swan Valley and surrounding areas due to the burn, and could continue for several days depending on conditions.

According to the USFS, the project is part of the 24,000 acre Fall Creek Aspen Improvement Project, which dates back to 2008. The collaborative effort is supproted by Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other partners.

The prescribed burns over the next few days will target approximately 2,500 acres of land around Beaver and Haskin Creeks between June Creek and Skyline Ridge, which is about 13 miles southwest of Swan Valley, Idaho.

Hannah is a Buckrail Staff Reporter and freelance web developer and designer who has called Jackson home since 2015. When she’s not outside, you can probably find her eating a good meal, playing cribbage, or at one of the local yoga studios. She’s interested in what makes this community tick, both from the individual and collective perspective.