BLM announces decision on Clark Fork Face forest health and fuels reduction project

MISSOULA, Mont.— The Bureau of Land Management’s Missoula Field Office announced its decision to move forward with forest restoration and fuels reduction treatments in the Garnet Mountains between Bonner and Drummond.

The field office selected the Proposed Action (Alternative 2) without permanent road construction based on analyses in the Environmental Assessment and the public comments received during the comment period.

“This decision will allow us to improve forest health and reduce hazardous fuels across a majority of the area, while also responding to public comment about the effects of permanent road construction on wildlife and other values including soil productivity, noxious weeds, and recreational uses within the planning area,” said Missoula Field Manager Erin Carey.

The emphasis of the Missoula project is to protect life, property, and firefighter safety in and near the wildland-urban interface and promote resilience to wildfire by reducing forest fuel loading and breaking up homogeneous stand conditions.

The work across 16,689 acres is tentatively scheduled to begin this summer and will likely continue through multiple contracts for up to 15 years. Treatments will include fuels management, variable density thinning, prescribed burning, limber pine enhancement and timber harvest with prescribed burning.

The BLM has posted the Decision Record, Finding of No Significant Impact, and final Environmental Assessment along with other supporting documents to ePlanning at this link: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020951/510.

A person adversely affected by this forest management decision may appeal the decision to the Interior Board of Land Appeals within 30 calendar days of the date of this decision. Appeals should be addressed to the Missoula Field office, Attention: Erin Carey, 3255 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804.