Dayton forest project targets insect infestations, disease

The Swan Lake Ranger District is seeking feedback on a potential forest project near Dayton in an area that is considered highly susceptible to insect and disease infestations.

The Dayton Project is in its infancy and Forest Service officials hope an upcoming public meeting will help shape what sort of treatments will be used on the primarily federal lands.

The public has until April 26 to RSVP for the meeting, which has been scheduled for May 3 from 5 to 6:00 p.m. at the forest main Blacktail Nordic Trail trailhead at the junction of Blacktail Mountain Road and Forest Road 10138. Attendees are expected to supply their own transportation, outdoor gear and water.

Flathead National Forest Spokeswoman Tami MacKenzie said in an email that the Dayton Project area encompasses 8,000 acres southwest of Kalispell, just north of Lake Mary Ronan. The area experiences high recreation use, is adjoined by multiple private properties and is near communities including Lakeside, Somers and Dayton.

Project documents do not detail how many acres within the project area may actually undergo different commercial and non-commercial treatments, but MacKenzie said wildlife biologists, a silviculturist, a fuels planner and other district staff have “been to the area and used data to examine and highlight areas suitable for both of those types of treatments.”

MacKenzie said a mix of treatments will make trees and other vegetation in the area more resilient to insect infestations and diseases. Armillaria root rot, dwarf mistletoe infestations and douglas-fir beetle invasions are among some of the issues the project will address.

MacKenzie said the Dayton Project is in an area that has been designated by state officials, as part of the 2014 Farm Bill, as being at-risk for experiencing a substantial increase in tree mortality over the next 15 years due to insect and disease infestation.

To create more hardy stands, some of the treatments would focus on reforesting with tree species that are considered more resilient to infestations and outbreaks, such as ponderosa pine, western white pine and western larch.

To obtain additional information about the Dayton Project and to RSVP to the field trip, contact project leader Kyle Stetler at kyle.stetler@usda.gov.

Reporter Kianna Gardner may be reached at 758-4407 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com