Monitoring field trip planned for Medicine Bow Landscape Vegetation Analysis, October 2, 2025
This all-day event will visit two project locations in the northern Snowy Range.
Contact Information: LaVA Implementation Coordinator matthew.schweich@usda.gov
On Thursday, October 2, 2025, the Medicine Bow National Forest will host its fourth annual monitoring field trip for the Landscape Vegetation Analysis (LaVA) project. The field trip is open to the public.
Monitoring and reporting are the final phase for treatments in the LaVA implementation process. The primary intent of this phase is to answer questions: Did we do what we said we were going to do? Did we get the expected outcomes? Do we need to adjust future projects?
This year’s monitoring field trip will look at two projects: the Wick Wildlife and Fuels project and the Buck Timber Sale. The Wick project was developed and implemented collaboratively between the USDA Forest Service and Wyoming Game and Fish Department. This project used mastication to treat older, dying aspen stands, decadent brush stands, and dense, younger conifer stands on 114 acres. No road reconstruction or temporary roads were needed for the Wick project. The Buck project included 191 acres of clearcuts and overstory removal in primarily lodgepole pine stands with extensive mortality from insects and disease. The Buck project included an estimated 3.4 miles of road reconstruction and 1.0 miles of temporary roads.
Both projects are located on the northern end of the Snowy Range, in Carbon County, Wyo. Participants will need to provide their own transportation for the day. High-clearance vehicles are recommended, although four-wheel drive is not needed. We’ll drive about 25 miles on gravel roads that can be wash-boarded and dusty.
During the trip, we’ll take several short, optional walks off road/trail, on uneven terrain, through slash and low vegetation. Participants will need to bring appropriate clothing, footwear, food, and water for the trip. No gas stations, stores, restrooms, or other facilities will be available for the duration of the trip.
We ask that everyone interested in participating in the field trip RSVP so that we can let you know when and where we will meet, in case of inclement weather, or other complications. To RSVP or if you have any questions, please contact Matt Schweich, LaVA Implementation Coordinator at matthew.schweich@usda.gov (preferred) or (307) 745-2422 (limited voicemail monitoring).
Additional information about the LaVA project can be found online.