The Flathead National Forest has awarded only a handful of contracts with economic stimulus money so far, but next year there will be a wave of stimulus work across the forest.

The Flathead Forest received $13.3 million under the American Recovery and Restoration Act that was passed by Congress in February, plus an additional $1.6 million for specific infrastructure improvement projects.

So far, just over $1 million has been awarded under seven contracts.

But more than $7 million is expected to be awarded over the winter, most of it going to projects that will get under way next year.

"In 2010 and 2011, we'll probably be running three times more than our normal project level," said Earl Applekamp, the forest's lead engineer.

More than $122 million in stimulus money has been allocated throughout the Forest Service's Northern Region, and about 30 percent of that money has been obligated so far, according to Rose Davis, public information officer at the region's Missoula headquarters.

Applekamp and his counterpart project planners across the region have been busy, to say the least.

"I think one of the challenges for us has been managing these projects in balance with our regular-year projects," Applekamp said.

Contracted engineers have been enlisted to help with the workload, which has involved surveying and designing more than 60 stimulus projects on the Flathead Forest alone. Stimulus money must be obligated by Oct. 1, 2010, with a deadline for work completion by Oct. 1, 2013.

"We anticipate all of our projects getting done before then," said Applekamp, who predicts stimulus work will peak in 2010 and the following year.

Currently, a triple-lane boat launch is being built at Doris Creek on Hungry Horse Reservoir, along with a 70-space parking area, a host site, 10 new camping sites and new vault toilets. About $290,000 in stimulus money plus $320,000 in appropriated funds are paying for the project, which will be finished by next summer. Ureco Inc., a Columbia Falls construction company, is doing the work.

A $350,000 stimulus project is under way at the Swan Lake picnic area and campground, which will be closed on Monday as parking area resurfacing gets under way. The contractor is AGC Inc., a Kalispell construction company.

Contracts have been awarded for reconstruction of two trailheads on the Hungry Horse Ranger District, replacing a series of culverts on the Swan Lake Ranger District, rebuilding a bridge on the Tally Lake Ranger District, and to hire engineering and surveying help for the bulk of stimulus projects that have yet to be awarded.

That work includes six gravel or paving resurfacing projects, five culvert replacement projects, four bridge reconstruction projects, six road decommissioning projects, eight vault toilet construction projects and five trail maintenance and reconstruction projects - three of them in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Also on the forest's stimulus agenda are weed control and sign improvement projects.

Applekamp expects "lots of interest" from area construction contractors as bidding approaches. With winter approaching, Flathead Forest officials are making arrangements for potential bidders to inspect project sites.

"I feel that's really important," Applekamp said of the site inspections. "A picture is worth a thousand words and being there is worth a thousand pictures."

Pre-bidding information, along with maps of project areas, will be posted on the Flathead Forest's Web site (www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead).

All of the stimulus projects, like other forest contracts, are being advertised on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site (http://www.fbo.gov) and all of the contracts are being managed by regional contracting officers out of Denver.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com