Comments sought on timber harvest, trail expansion west of Whitefish

The Flathead Forest has released its Environmental Assessment for a forest project on more than 28,000 acres west of Whitefish that includes new trails at a popular Nordic ski area.

The Round Star project on the Tally Lake Ranger District is aimed at creating a healthier and more fire-resistant forest within the designated wildland-urban interface, while also feeding local lumber mills and improving recreation opportunities, according to the Forest Service’s 119-page assessment.

The release of the document starts a 30-day comment period that will be used to refine the final project plan. 

Approximately 87% of the Round Star project area is in the wildland-urban interface, established by the 2011 and 2020 Flathead County Community Wildfire Protection Plans.

The project proposes commercial timber harvest on up to 6,660 acres, and noncommercial vegetation treatments on up to 2,866 acres.

Approximately 678 acres of clear cuts are planned, including a swath along East Sanko Creek, while 134 acres of prescribed burns are proposed for sections along Tally Lake Road and in the North Fork Evers Creek area.

The assessment notes that the Forest Service received public comments in favor of expanding the harvest to further improve forest health and fire safety.

“The team looked at opportunities to expand vegetation treatments but were limited by forest plan direction as well as by the need to balance effects to other resources,” the assessment states. “The team believes vegetation treatments currently proposed would address the purpose and need within the project area while addressing other resource concerns.”

About 20 miles of news roads would be constructed for the project. Approximately 13.4 miles would be placed in intermittent stored service and closed by barriers, and while the remaining 6.5 miles would be gated once project activities are complete.

Another 3.4 miles of temporary roads are also planned, which would be rehabilitated after use.

Also part of the project, 5.6 miles of non-motorized trails would be added to the Round Meadow trail system on the south side of NFSR 539, along with additional parking space.

The new trails would be groomed for Nordic skiing in the winter, and open to mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking in the summer.

The project would also add a warming shelter at the main Round Meadow Trailhead, along with a storage building to house the grooming equipment.

“We received comments both in support of and in opposition to the proposed improvements to the Round Meadow area,” the assessment states. “Commenters expressed support for constructing a warming hut, a desire to see more trails with more grooming, larger parking areas and additional room for storage of grooming equipment.

“Conversely, we received comments opposed to the warming hut and parking area expansion. These conflicting suggestions were evaluated by the team which determined that, given the increasing level of recreational use at this site, the proposed improvements would best meet the purpose and need for the project, accommodated existing and anticipated use while addressing safety issues to pedestrians and snowplows.”

Comments on the assessment can be emailed to comments-northern-flathead-tally-lake@usda.gov with “Round Star Project” in the subject line. Written input can be sent to Kira Powell, Project Leader, Tally Lake Ranger Station, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT  59901. 

Contact Kira Powell, Project Leader, for more information at (406)758-3508.

For the complete environmental assessment, visit the project page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60892.