Timber harvest proposed along South Fork of Flathead

A 3,776-acre forest project beyond the far reaches of the Hungry Horse Reservoir is out for a second round of public comment.

According to the Environmental Assessment released Thursday, the Flathead National Forest is proposing approximately 1,040 acres of vegetation management for the Spotted Bear Mountain Project, which is 40 miles southeast of Hungry Horse on the Spotted Bear Ranger District.

The Spotted Bear Ranger Station is within the project area, and two guest ranches are located directly adjacent to the site.

The designated South Fork of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River falls within the project area, however, no activities are proposed within the designated wild and scenic river corridor.

About 42% of the project is a designated wildland-urban interface zone.

Commercial timber harvest is planned for about 747 acres, with thinning and burning on another 293 acres.

The commercial harvest would involve ground-based mechanized methods, and precommercial thinning would be done with hand chainsaws.

Work could begin as soon as next year. The timber harvest would take approximately five years to complete, while the other work could take up to 10 years.

About 9,712 hundred cubic feet of commercial timber is projected, with an estimated value of $490,000.

Two hiking trails would be affected by the work, trail Nos. 80 and 83, although the impacts are expected to be short-term and minimal.

Less than a mile of temporary roads would be used and rehabilitated following timber harvest activities, while approximately 3.4 miles of roads would be constructed and made impassable following the work.

Overall public motorized access would not change.

Forest officials says the project is aimed at improving forest health in this remote area, reducing tree density and forest fire fuels, while also sending some logs to local mills.

“One goal is to shift the forest back to a historical stand structure. We want to decrease stand density, improve forest health, and increase the presence of fire-tolerant species such as ponderosa pine so that our forests are more likely to survive future wildfires and pest outbreaks,” said Spotted Bear District Ranger Scott Snelson.

Forest officials report that a lack of wildfire in the project area has resulted in an overly dense forest and a shift in species from ponderosa pine to Douglas fir. The crowded Douglas-fir dominated forest is more susceptible to insects and disease, and root disease are active in the project area.

The project was first announced in November 2021.

“We received comments both in favor and against the project,” said Snelson. “We are anxious for feedback now that a draft environmental assessment has been prepared.”

A map, project information and instructions for how to provide comment is posted online at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61010