Kalispell, MT, December 17, 2018 –Forest Supervisor, Chip Weber recently approved two projects that together will provide for approximately 5,000 acres of vegetation management on the Flathead National Forest.
The Betty Baptiste Project, along the eastern side of Hungry Horse Reservoir, will improve forest health by reducing stand densities to increase resistance to disturbances such as fire, insects and disease. Vegetation management activities will restore important species such as western white pine and benefit winter range habitat for big game. The project will allow for hazard tree removal in developed recreation sites and improvements to the Logan Creek Trailhead and Baptiste Lookout Trail.
The Weed Lake Landscape Restoration Project provides for vegetation management in the wildland urban interface to the east of the Swan Lake community, including the Swan Lake campground and day use area. This work will focus on fuels reduction and restoration to a fire adapted ecosystem in order to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. District Ranger Chris Dowling stated that he is “pleased to provide for public safety, in balance with other natural resource needs, as provided by the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of the 2014 Farm Bill.”
Additional Information on these and other Flathead National Forest projects is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/flathead/landmanagement/projects.
Questions regarding the project can be directed to Michele Draggoo, Flathead National Forest Environmental Coordinator, at 406-758-5200.
