Salvage logging proposed

The Swan Lake Ranger District is proposing a salvage harvest of burned and beetle-infested trees in the area burned by last summer’s Condon Mountain Fire.

Salvage operations would occur on about 583 acres of national forest lands on the Swan Range east of Condon. 

“The purpose of this project is to recover merchantable wood fiber affected by the Condon Mountain Fire in a timely manner,” states a press release from the Flathead National Forest. “The project will provide forest products to the local timber industry, contributing to a short-term timber supply and long-term sustainability of timber on national forest system lands.”

Due to the decay rates of burned trees, timely harvest is considered “essential” in retaining value, according to the news release. 

The lightning-caused Condon Mountain Fire started in late July and burned about 5,500 acres. It was contained in late October.

The Swan Lake Ranger District is holding an initial comment period until April 26.

The proposal is available at the ranger district office in Bigfork or online at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/projects.