The Daily Inter Lake

State starts initial look at timber project

The state is launching a planning process for a large-scale timber project in the Swan Valley.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is soliciting public comments to help develop the White Porcupine project, which would involve a series of timber sales with harvesting expected from 2009 through 2011.

"Instead of developing individual sales and completing separate environmental analysis (for each sale), Swan River State Forest is proposing to complete an environmental impact statement that analyzes and displays the direct, indirect and cumulative effects for all of these timber sales …," says a notice from Dan Roberson, Swan River State Forest manager.

The project is largely aimed at generating timber volume to comply with a statewide sustainable yield timber target of 53.2 million board feet annually. To meet that target, the Swan River State Forest is tasked with providing 6.7 million board feet annually.

As proposed, the White Porcupine Project encompasses 10,320 acres of state forest land west of Montana 83 about seven miles south of the town of Swan Lake.

"Harvest would occur on approximately 15 to 20 percent of the total project area," the notice says.

The timing of the project is intended to coincide with a multi-agency grizzly bear conservation agreement that allows forest management activities in areas of the Swan Valley on a rotating basis.

These areas, known as sub-units, are open for active forest management for three years, followed by a three-year dormant period.

The state agency is accepting initial comments through June 30.

More information on the project is available by calling the Swan River State Forest at 754-2301. Written comments may be sent by e-mail to kbaker@mt.gov or to Kristen Baker at the Swan River State Forest, 34925 Montana 83, Swan Lake, MT, 59911.