Burning, logging, thinning planned near Beaver Lake

The Flathead National Forest is seeking public comment on a thinning project proposed for 174 acres of land near Beaver Lake. The purpose of the project is to reduce high levels of forest fire fuels and create conditions that are more fire resistant.

Residents in the Elkhorn Subdivision west of Whitefish have expressed concern about the condition of hazardous fuels in the vicinity near their homes, Tally Lake District Ranger Lisa Timchak noted in a press release. Several fire reduction projects have already taken place in the area, including the Beaver Lake South project in 2010.

For the proposed Beaver Lake North project, merchantable-sized trees would be harvested and sold from about 70 acres. About 500,000 board feet could be available.

Treatment of the remaining area would include burning, or thinning, piling and masticating accomplished by a combination of equipment and hand crews.

Current stands in the project area are dominated by lodgepole or Douglas-fir trees with minor amounts of western larch, spruce and ponderosa. Large live trees and the larger snags and down wood would remain in place.

The resulting forest after fuel reduction would have 20 to 70 percent tree cover and most areas wouldn’t need reforestation. The forest would have a more open appearance with spacing between trees at about 15 to 30 feet in the thinned areas and 30 to 50 feet in the shelterwood and burned areas.

An existing road would need improvements. This road would be closed following the project. No new roads would be constructed.

The environmental assessment is due to be completed in this spring or summer.

A public field trip to the site is slated for Tuesday, April 17 from 3 - 5 p.m. Call 758-5204 for more information.

Comments due by May 7 can be sent to Tally Lake Ranger District, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901 or by email to comments-northern-flathead-tally-lake@fs.fed.us.