Forest aims to salvage trees hit by wind
The Daily Inter Lake
Two 2008 storms caused damage
The Swan Lake District of the Flathead National Forest has completed an environmental assessment for a project aimed at salvaging timber downed by severe windstorms last summer.
According to a news release, the district is seeking public comment on the Mid Swan Blowdown Salvage Project, which was planned in response to two large-scale wind events in June and July 2008 in the Swan Valley south of Swan Lake along Montana 83.
The June windstorm occurred near Goat Creek while the July windstorm affected a larger area, including the Piper Creek drainage on the west and the Lion Creek drainage on the east side of the valley.
Trees on federal, state and private lands were affected with various uprooting, stem breakage and severe bending.
The environmental assessment will address only activities on national forest system lands.
The environmental assessment for the project includes three action alternatives, in addition to a no-action alternative.
Natural resource specialists from the Flathead National Forest developed the action alternatives based on earlier public comment, knowledge of the area and resource expertise.
The acreage on which salvage harvest would occur varies among the alternatives from 690 to 622 acres, with estimated timber volumes ranging from 5.2 to 4.8 million board feet.
Fuels treatment activities would take place, as would tree planting in some of the areas. Temporary road construction of less than .3 miles is anticipated and historic road templates would be used. A decision on the project is anticipated in May with implementation this summer.
The public is encouraged to provide written comments on the environmental assessment by March 18. Comments should be forwarded to Swan Lake District Ranger Steve Brady. For more information, contact the project leader, Joleen Dunham, at 837-7510 or visit: