Log salvaging could begin this fall

Some of the North Shore's long-time residents may recall the days when logs were floated down the Flathead River into Somers Bay.

It's been more than 50 years since logging operations took place in Somers with the use of area water bodies for transport, but, if state agencies give the OK, a form of logging work will begin again as early as this fall.

North Shore Development, LLC, hopes to salvage logs that sunk during operations of the Somers Lumber Company and its subsequent owners. North Shore Development is a corporation owned by the remaining relatives of the original Devoes who purchased the lumber company site in 1946 and operated it as Devoe Lumber Co. until the mill was destroyed in a fire in 1957, according to relative Steve Devoe. The mill originally began production in 1902. Over those years of transport from area rivers into the North Shore of Flathead Lake, a number of logs would sink each year and be counted among the company's losses.

A settlement agreement in October 2008 with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, which owns the Lake bed, determined that North Shore is in fact the owner of submerged logs marked with an "N" brand. As part of the settlement, the Montana Board of Land Commissioners agreed that, subject to required permits and regulations, it would issue North Shore a land-use license to conduct a log salvage operation on Flathead Lake for a 10-year period. North Shore could get the license conditionally renewed for another 10 years.

Currently, DNRC, along with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, is seeking comments through July 21 on a recently completed environmental assessment. At the end of the comment period, a joint decision will be made by the agencies on whether to grant the land-use license and other permits along with any conditions and will be sent on to the land board's August meeting for final approval.

The total project area extends north of Point Caroline, between Lakeside and Somers, on the West Shore and north of Long Beach, between Woods Bay and Bigfork, on the East Shore.

The company will be salvaging both the "N" marked logs and unmarked logs that belong to DNRC as the owners of the Lake bed. North Shore will then track which logs belong to DNRC and the agency will get a percentage of the sales of those logs, along with the annual land-use fee.

"They've gotten a few [logs' out to see what they look like. They're beautiful wood and they have an interesting grain from being submerged in silt," said Greg Poncin with DNRC. "Generally speaking, [the logs' are in really good condition."

The whole project will of course depend on being able to market the logs.

Jim Cancroft with Northwest Management, who serves as the project manager, said these logs are "value added" because of their age, quality and history. That's why they'll be a unique sell.

He's had interest expressed from people wanting the wood for doors, flooring or beams.

"Most of it is old growth with tight grain, nice color. That's what's unique about them," he said. "Some of it's going to be marketing. I've talked to high-end builders who are interested in having it just to have it."

It will have to be sold that way as a specialty product for the project to turn a profit. Cancroft said there is a "developing market" for this sort of wood.

The project involves removing 800 logs per month and 5,600 logs per operating season. The operating season would extend from April through November, but during the summer months, North Shore has said it will adopt a "flexible" schedule to minimize interference with recreation.

Jay Barth, diver with Northwest Dive and Recovery Services based out of Bigfork, said work similar to this is being done privately in other parts of the state.

Test logs have been pulled out of Flathead Lake, which Barth showed video of at a meeting in Lakeside last week to demonstrate how the work would be done.

The logs will be removed with the help of divers and a specially designed log-hauling pontoon boat as well as lift bags and boat winches. North Shore will salvage a five-acre section at a time until completed.

After the logs are removed from the Lake, they'll have to sit at a staging area approximately six miles north of Somers Bay for about a month to dry out. Once the water weight is gone, they'll be transported for sale, Cancroft said.

If approved, no removal activities would take place within roughly 1,000 feet of the Somers Bay Superfund site, the Flathead Waterfowl Production Area or the shoreline.

"I'd like to emphasize the levels that we're going to assess and protect the resource," Poncin said. "People don't want to see this valued resource of Flathead Lake damaged in any way. Neither do we."

Though projects similar to this have gone on throughout the country, this is the first time DNRC has been involved in such a project, which is why monitoring will take place throughout the process and adjustments made as needed.

The assessment recognizes that operations would be likely to cause a temporary increase in turbidity levels in the immediate area.

According to the assessment, the agencies anticipate that the bulk of the sediment will stay within two feet of the Lake bed and settle within about two hours.

Aside from techniques planned for the removal process to mediate that, North Shore plans to conduct 'real-time" turbidity monitoring during the initial salvage operations with the help of the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Based on the results, modifications would be made accordingly to procedures. Divers have observed that only a thin film of sediment is normally on submerged logs on the Lake bottom, according to the assessment.

"We're going to make sure we do this correctly," Poncin said.

An open house meeting was held in Lakeside last week to answer questions and provide information on the project.

This was the first meeting held on the proposal, though comments were solicited back in December 2008 prior to the scoping of the project. In that comment period, nine responses were received, including concerns expressed by the Flathead Lakers and the Flathead Lake Biological Station about impact on aquatic habitat. According to the assessment, representatives from North Shore held meetings with the biological station to discuss the project and impacts on the Lake.

Robin Steinkraus, executive director of the Flathead Lakers, said that in reviewing the environmental assessment, the Lakers are still looking for some answers.

"We still do have some concerns and still have some questions," Steinkraus said.

The questions mostly center around how the work will be done, particularly when it comes to the potential for stirring up sediment.

Steinkraus said the Lakers are still reviewing the assessment and will rely on the expertise of the Flathead Lake Biological Station on any comments the organization submits.

Copies of the assessment are available online at www.dnrc.mt.gov/envdocs/june/NorthShore.pdf or at the Montana DNRC's Kalispell Unit Office by calling 751-2240. Written comments on the project may be e-mailed to gponcin@mt.gov or sent by standard mail to Greg Poncin, DNRC Kalispell Unit Manager, 655 Timberwolf Parkway, Suite 2, Kalispell, MT 59901.