Timber project proposed along east side of reservoir

Flathead National Forest officials are seeking comment for a proposed forest treatment project on 22,800 acres along the east side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir.

The Betty Baptiste Project calls for timber harvesting on 940 acres, sapling thinning on 71 acres, prescribed burning on 697 acres, 2.7 miles of temporary road, three miles of road berming and six miles of road reclaiming.

Flathead Forest resource specialists spent last summer and this year conducting field review on the project area. The project is bounded by Paint Creek on the north, South Dry Parks Creek on the south and by the Great Bear Wilderness on the east.

Project goals are to improve forest health and diversity and restore white pine as a major tree species; reduce tree densities; improve timber productivity for the local economy; improve grizzly bear security by reducing motorized access; remove or replace culverts to improve fish passage; maintain or improve recreation values at nearby developed campgrounds; and create and improve scenic views along the Eastside Reservoir Road.

The project area includes the Logan Dry Park grizzly bear subunit, an area approximating the size of a female grizzly’s home range. It also includes land within the Bear-Marshall-Scapegoat-Swan Inventoried Roadless Area, but only prescribed burning is proposed for that area.

Proposed timber harvesting methods include ground-based equipment on 711 acres and skyline equipment on 229 acres. Thinning would be done by hand using chainsaws. Temporary roads would be rehabilitated after use for timber harvesting.

Culverts to be removed include three on Road 38, three on Road 1624, one on Road 1636, one on Road 2839 and four on Road 11009. Steps would be taken to prevent erosion on reclaimed roads.

The Betty Baptiste Project planning document is expected to be released in spring 2013. For additional information, visit online at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flatheadprojects or call project leader Michele Draggoo at 387-3827.

Comments can be e-mailed to comments-northern-flathead-spotted-bear@fs.fed.us, mailed to Michele Draggoo, Hungry Horse Ranger Station, P.O. Box 190340, Hungry Horse MT 59919 or dropped off at the Hungry Horse Ranger Station. Deadline to comment is Nov. 5.