MARIENVILLE — The USDA Forest Service is accepting comments for large wood to five streams and their tributaries on the Marienville Ranger District, Allegheny National Forest.

The environmental analysis will propose five projects, which will reduce flood peaks by diverting flows to side channels and improve stream habitat by felling up to 70 trees per mile into these five streams and their tributaries (9.3 stream miles total) and onto their floodplains.

Proposed Project Areas:

• Gurgling Run, 2.8 miles, warrants 4134, 4135, Millstone Township, Elk County; also warrants 4130, 4136, Jenks Township, Forest County

• East Branch Millstone Creek, 2.8 miles, warrants 4129, 4135, Millstone Township, Elk County; also warrant 4130, Jenks Township, Forest County

• Steck Run, 1.7 miles; warrants 2362, 2369, 2667, Millstone Township, Elk County

• Church Run, 1.5 miles, warrants 2581, 2596, 2792, Robert Allison, Millstone Township, Elk County

• Winlack Run, 0.5 miles, warrants 2542, 2543, Millstone Township, Elk County

Project treatments will include:

• Level 1 treatments would use chainsaws only to fell trees into stream channels.

• Level 2 treatments would use a combination of chainsaws and a grip hoist or winch to place the wood in the channels.

• Some minor disturbance of the organic layer of the soils would be caused where the grip-hoist or winch is used to position the large wood in the stream channel. Heavy equipment will not be used for this project, and except for operational safety, live hemlock or white pine will not be felled for this project.

Comments for these projects will be most helpful by Dec. 2.

For more information contact Kevin Treese at 814-927-5759 or kevin.treese@usda.gov.