Fuels project approved in Canyon area

The Daily Inter Lake

A fuels reduction project for forest lands between Hungry Horse and West Glacier has been approved by Flathead National Forest.

The Belton Fuels Reduction Project will involve logging, prescribed burning and tree planting on about 1,800 acres of national forest lands in the Canyon area's "urban interface."

The main intent of the project is reduce the intensity of future wildfires.

Logging and thinning are planned for about 900 acres; prescribed burned will occur on about 900 acres and tree planting is planned on 200 acres. The project is expected to yield about 3 million board feet of merchantable timber.

Forest officials hope for work to begin as early as next summer. However, the project is subject to administrative appeal.

An environmental analysis for the project is available on the forest's Web site at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead