BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced nearly $66 million to improve water quality, roads, trails, bridges and fish habitat on national forests and grasslands nationwide. A portion of the funding is allocated to improve National Forest System Road 779 Horse Creek in the Medora Ranger District. The site is about 17 miles west and 27 miles south of the city of Medora.

The USDA Forest Service Dakota Prairie Grasslands (DPG) Engineering program, in cooperation with the Medora Ranger District and Slope County, recognized the need to replace an aging box culvert located in a wetland/riparian area just east of the Horse Creek Grazing Association Headquarters. The project was submitted for funding and was received. Plans were developed, an environmental review completed and a construction contract was assembled and submitted to contracting and shall be out for solicitation soon.

“The project would remove approximately 1,700 feet of road embankment in a wetland/riparian area, reclaim approximately 2,100 feet of abandoned roadway, create a new alignment well out of the floodplain and minimize frequent closures and maintenance due to minor rainfall events,” said Curtis Grudniewski, DPG supervisory engineer.

This project enhances the safety of the public and local populations while accomplishing restoration of the floodplain. Additionally, the undertaking will maintain future access to adjacent areas for the public, contractors, permittees and firefighters.