BONNERS FERRY –  A draft decision has been issued with a finding of no significant impact for the Boulder Creek Restoration Project located on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District.

The draft decision was issued by Jeanne Higgins, forest supervisor for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, objection period is open for 45 days. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted written comments regarding the project during the scoping and opportunity for comment periods. Information about the project is available at bit.ly/2AGpePL.

The BCRP is a vegetation management project designed to address hazardous fuels, forest health and resilience, wildlife habitat, watershed health, recreation, and heritage site management concerns. The project area is located southwest of Highway 2, east of Naples, and encompasses 40,612 acres that includes the Boulder Creek watershed. Treatments include approximately 7,400 acres of prescribed burning in natural fuels, and about 3,400 acres of commercial timber harvest in addition to ecosystem restoration improvements.

Kevin Knauth, Bonners Ferry district ranger, said in a statement that he recognizes the time and effort that stakeholders invested in the project planning efforts.

"While collaboration requires additional work on everyone’s part, it results in a better project," Knauth said in the statement. "I appreciate the community’s involvement in this project."

The project was developed in collaboration with the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative to complement other landscape restoration work in the Lower Kootenai River Valley. The KVRI collaborative consists of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Boundary County, City of Bonners Ferry, private citizens, landowners, Federal and State agencies, conservation/environmental advocacy groups, and representatives of business and industry.

For additional information or questions, contact Doug Nishek, project team leader, at dnishek@fs.fed.us, or 208-267-5561.