Young forest habitats on Indiana federal lands have declined 90% since 1986. That’s why RGS & AWS are working to expedite habitat work throughout the state, including the Houston South Project within Hoosier National Forest.
Regarding the project, the U.S. Forest Service conducted nearly 15 months of environmental studies and analysis, public scoping, field review, and consultation with the Forest Plan and published the Decision Notice on the Houston South Project on February 14, 2020.
The final proposed actions under the Houston South Project were found to be in compliance with all Executive Orders, the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Wilderness Act, National Forest Management Act, and all standards and guidelines established in the Forest Plan.
Unless implementation is delayed under the pending lawsuit, the project may begin any time following publication of the Decision Notice, and the work is expected to take several years to complete.
In early January 2021, RGS & AWS and a coalition of conservation partners filed an amicus brief in support of the Houston South Project. Click on the links below to learn more.
Media Release – Jan. 12, 2021: Amicus brief filed in support of Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest habitat project by Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society, coalition of conservation groups
Backgrounder: Proposed Amici Brief — Brent Rudolph, PhD Declaration — Ray Moistner Declaration — Motion for Leave to File Amicus Brief
