Prescribed fire proposed for Lone Pine

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking input on a proposed prescribed burn on up to approximately 17 acres at Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell.

If approved, FWP would work with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to complete the burn over one day in early April of this year. Smoke could temporarily affect air quality for the surrounding area during the burn.

The proposal is out for a 14-day public comment period ending at 5 p.m., March 27. A virtual public information meeting is planned for March 22 at 6 p.m., and information will be posted online at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/regions/region1.

Prescribed burns involve the intentional ignition of fire in a defined area. Prescribed fires follow strategic plans that seek to achieve site-specific resource management objectives, such as hazard removal or wildlife habitat improvement.

According to FWP, the proposed prescribed fire at Lone Pine is aimed at benefiting native plants, grassland and the wildlife species that frequent the area.

Aerial photography from 1946 shows that the area south of Lone Pine was predominantly bunchgrass habitat. By 2019, most of this area had disappeared due to conifer encroachment, elimination of fire and grazing, and urban sprawl. One of the goals of the project is to preserve the current native grassland. The prescribed burn would eliminate seedlings gradually overtaking this area. The burn would also benefit the wildlife species, including birds, that frequent the area by rejuvenating the park’s native grasslands and flora and fauna.

FWP anticipates minimal short-term impacts to park visitors for this project. The revitalized grassland would bring long-term benefits to both park visitors, the surrounding community, and the park habitat.

The prescribed fire would follow a “Burn Plan” written by DNRC. The plan outlines responsibilities of DNRC wildland firefighters, who will be conducting the burn, and FWP employees. The plan also details a contingency plan with safety measures in place.

FWP acknowledges that there are potential risks associated with the burn but they would be addressed through numerous efforts, including the strategic burn plan, monitoring of weather and fuel conditions and a robust assessment of what risks and hazards may be present before the project started.

The project is funded by a Montana Forest Action Plan grant in cooperation with DNRC.

A separate forest thinning project will be reviewed in an environmental assessment scheduled for later in 2022.

To provide input on this proposed project, email Bschwartz2@mt.gov or send written comments to Brian Schwartz, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 300 Lone Pine Road, Kalispell, MT 59901. A copy of the draft environmental assessment of the project is available to view online at https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices, or available at the FWP Region 1 office in Kalispell.