UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Between now and the third week in November, the Forestland Management Office in the Penn State Department of Ecosystem Science and Management will permit the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) to complete one prescribed fire within the boundary of the Penn State Stone Valley Forest in northern Huntingdon County.
The low-intensity prescribed fire will be conducted under the authority of the University's private cooperative agreement with the PGC. The prescribed fire will be staffed and completed by PGC professionals. The PGC will complete the prescribed fire in compliance with Pennsylvania House Bill 262, as well as the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Standards.
The objective of the low-intensity prescribed fire is to improve the midstory and understory habitat conditions of the burn unit, while providing a field site to demonstrate and display the use and effects of prescribed fires to University students, staff and staff, as well as the general public.
The PGC authored the prescribed fire burn plan, which was approved by the University. In accordance with that plan, additional notification will be provided once the date has been set to complete the controlled burn.