The Washington County Conservation Board is currently working to improve the timber stand at Sockum Ridge. Conservation Director Steve Anderson said the area in question is in the north-central section of the timber, where they are looking to do some understory reduction. The process will make the timber more open, and allow for better regeneration with the trees. The plan is to hire an outside contractor to perform the reduction, and at their monthly meeting they accepted a bid for the work. The area covered is approximately 14 acres, and Anderson is confident it will be completed before April of next year. Sockum Ridge is located roughly five miles south of Washington.