KALISPELL, MT. -September 9, 2019 –The Flathead National Forest will allow personal use firewood collection from September 15 – October 15, 2019 along the Tally Lake Road 913 and a gated portion of the 2929 road. This will provide for expanded opportunities for personal use woodcutting on a road that is normally closed to firewood removal, and a road that is normally closed to public motorized traffic. The areas include:

• Tally Lake (913) Road on Tally Lake Ranger District – Due to the abundance of dead standing and down trees in this area, the Tally Lake Ranger District wants to provide an opportunity for the public to remove firewood, and is planning to allow firewood cutting along this road from September 15 – October 15, 2019.
• 2929 Road on Tally Lake Ranger District– Gated road 2929 is accessed from the Star Meadows road in Section 17 T28N R17W. This road provides access to slash piles and previously felled trees from fuels reduction activities in the area. This road will be open September 15 – October 15, 2019, but could be closed earlier if removal objectives are met.

A Forest Service personal-use firewood permit is available for a minimum of four cords of firewood for $20.00. Woodcutters must have their filled out permit with them while collecting wood. Please read and follow all terms and conditions written on your permit. These include:

• Some trees in these areas have been marked with orange paint and/or wildlife signs. Standing or downed trees marked with orange paint or signs are not to be cut. These trees provide important habitat for many kinds of wildlife, and it is important that they are left standing and undamaged.
• Clear the road surface and ditches of tree tops, limbs, and debris when you are done
  cutting firewood and scatter or pile the material off of the roadway.

  All vehicles must remain on the road surface.

The area will be monitored by Forest Service personnel, as in previous years.  Resource damage, such as creating “stump roads” or the loss of marked wildlife trees, could result in discontinuing the opportunity to cut firewood on these roads.  Public cooperation has been excellent in past years, and we ask firewood cutters using the area to help continue to make this opportunity a success.

To be sure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable woodcutting experience; people visiting the area are asked to spread out, keep a lookout for other people and vehicles, and as much as possible keep the road open and passable for others.  Some of the roads have limited space where they end, so it is a good idea to turn your vehicle around before filling it with wood.

Maps of the woodcutting areas, as well as firewood permits, are available at the Tally Lake Ranger District Office/Flathead National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Kalispell.