Forest Service updates commissioners on projects

Michael Feiger, District Ranger for the Cabinet Ranger District, gave a briefing to the Sander County Commissioners on last regarding wildland fires and other forestry concerns for Sanders County. Logging projects with timber sales and vegetation management were on the agenda. Recreation, wildfire and prescribed burns were updated.

Feiger said the Tuscor project is a big accomplishment. “The decision was signed July 28 to put the project up for bid and it was advertised on August 8 of this year. This brings the project, from inception to fruition, to a full year in the making,” Feiger said. The bid will be awarded in September. “The area includes 1,368 acres,” he said. “I am very excited to announce this project and am happy with the outcome,” Feiger added. Of the proposed area, 726 acres will be harvested for commercial use. The non-commercial forested area will receive treatment for hazardous fuels. Other vegetation management and timber sales will occur in spring and summer of next year. They are active or in preparation, according to Feiger. They include the Wild Rice at Rice Draw, Lazy Jack at Beaver Point, Dry Creek Stewardship for Bull River and Dry Creek region, Purple Marten, and Saw Creek out of Big Beaver Creek.

The White Pine/Beaver Creek is a new 2,026 acre forest restoration project. “It will be a healthy restoration next spring to late 2025,” Feiger said. The Kootenai stakeholders will be involved in the process. “We will be pushing a lot of dirt to make access roads,” he concluded.

Marten Creek Road has a re-alignment design being developed and is near completion. “We are working with landowners to establish right-of-way to cover the work, or if there’s a need for a separate decision. Commissioner Tony Cox said he hopes it will be resolved by fall. “It really needs to be done before snowfall,” Cox said. Feiger said a balanced partnership of support between the county and forest service with seed money would be ideal. “I will keep you posted as we work through the issues,” he said.

The Ten Lakes Region out of Eureka, Libby and Troy is winter range designated areas for grizzly bears and wolverines. Issues on the Bull River need resolution according to Feiger. “The over-snow vehicles pose a threat to denning animals, especially in late spring and early summer in the high country, when mothers are emerging from their dens with babies,” he explained. The most affected areas are at the elevations of 5,500 to 6,000 feet. There needs to be management of access to these areas, Feiger said. “ The areas south of Highway 200 do not have as many occupancy cases. Fish Wildlife and Parks is working on a resolution,” he added. Cox asked if timbered areas as well as wide open spaces were equally affected. “Both places have denning environments,” Feiger said. “Northern Idaho has come up with a plan for restricting the over-snow vehicles during crucial times. I think we will be able to come up with a reasonable solution as well,” he concluded.

“We are gearing up for the fire season with staffing as a crew from North Carolina is coming in,” Feiger said. The majority of fires have been due to human caused starts with a recent uptick in cases. “Right now crews from Montana are supporting other states such as Oregon, Washington, and California with their fires. “We are experiencing green moisture in the higher elevations but down low things are drying out fast,” Feiger said. “Fires are quickly suppressed and under control at the moment,” he stated. “Long range forecasts indicate a later fire season in northern Idaho and northwest Montana,” Feiger concluded.