Butte, MT, August 30, 2019—Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Supervisor Cheri Ford has signed the Decision Notice for the Red Rocks Vegetation Project located north of Butte and west of Interstate 15 near the communities of Bernice and Basin.
“We welcome this long awaited decision,” said Leonard Wortman, member of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Working Group (BDWG) and Jefferson County Commissioner. “The Working Group has been extensively involved and supportive of the Red Rocks project.”
The BDWG is a citizen-based committee of people who represent key interests, geographic balance, and knowledge of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
This project will implement treatments across 6,673 acres. The purpose of these treatments are to reduce timber stand density and increase age class, size class, and species diversity in the project area as well as reduce encroaching conifers in low to mid-elevation grassland-shrubland communities and aspen stands. In conjunction with addressing these needs, this project will also recover the economic value of forest products to support and sustain local economies, industries, and livelihoods. Treatments will include timber harvesting, slashing, and prescribed burning.
Additional improvements will include upgrading 11 culverts and four stream ford crossings to accommodate aquatic organism passages and increase connectivity.
The project Decision Notice is available for public review online at the project web page https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51022, or copies may be requested by contacting the Butte Ranger District Office at (406) 494-2147.
