The Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest has proposed a plan for its Crystal Cedar project north of Columbia Falls that would include a timber harvest of nearly 4,000 acres as well as a new multi-use trail network.

There will be a public open house with more information from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Teakettle Community Room, 235 Nucleus Ave. in Columbia Falls. The U.S. Forest Service will present a brief overview of the project at 6 p.m. and resource specialists will be available to answer questions about the project.

According to the proposal, the timber harvest would be a combination of commercial harvest as well as harvest and prescribed burns to reduce wildfire fuel.

The project includes a 3,881-acre area just north of Columbia Falls and west of the Flathead River. The area, which contains a total of 27,249 acres, includes Crystal Creek, Cedar Flats, Spoon Lake, Blankenship Road and Teakettle Mountain.

The Forest Service also has proposed a non-motorized trail network north of Columbia Falls, to be constructed and maintained in partnership with community organizations.

The project proposes adding approximately 24.5 miles of trail to create loop opportunities. Some trail segments could be constructed on top of temporary roadways, and other trail segments could have new construction, the scoping document notes.

Two trails are proposed to provide a familyfriendly experience, with one being an interpretive trail in a wetlands area.

The trail system also would include 0.2 miles open to all-terrain vehicles. This short connector trail would provide sustainable access to FS Road 1690 from FS Trail 6400 and the existing motorized trail system, the plan states.

One trailhead is proposed at the junction of Barnett Road and NFS Road 10815, and another on and on NFS Road 1690. Pullouts may be constructed along open roads to allow for two to three cars to park at various points in the trail network.

The Cedar Flats Working Group, a subcommittee of Gateway to Glacier, provided input to the Forest Service on the trail plan.

“We appreciate the feedback that we received from the public last year when we asked for input on possible management in the project area,” said Rob Davies, Hungry Horse-Glacier View District Ranger. “We used the information we received from the public and our own field review to identify potential management activities, and we look forward to discussing these with the public to hear what people think about what we are proposing.”

Maps and descriptions of the proposed action is available for review online at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52844. The Forest Service wants comments on the proposed action by Nov. 16.

For more information or to request a hard copy of the proposed action, contact Project Team Leader Sarah Canepa at 406-387-3800.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 406-758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.