A forest project to salvage an estimated 9 million board feet of burned timber from the Kootenai Forest is expected to begin this fall.

The Forest Service recently issued a final decision, finding no significant impact for the Tenmile Sterling Fire Salvage Project. The project area is located 16 miles south of Eureka in the upper Pinkham, Edna, and Swamp Creek drainages on the Fortine and Rexford Ranger Districts. It is located entirely within Lincoln County.

The dead and dying timber burned last July and August in the Ten Mile and Sterling fires.

“Much of the Tenmile Sterling Complex Fires burned with high severity, so assessing tree mortality is straightforward,” Kootenai Forest Supervisor Chad Benson’s Environmental Assessment notes. “It is often the case that no living foliage remains.”

Benson selected Alternative 2 from the Environmental Assessment, which would treat approximately 1,203 acres. The majority of work will involve ground crews using harvesters and skidders. Steeper terrain will utilize cable and skyline yarding systems.

Timber species in the salvage area include Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, Englemann spruce, ponderosa pine and western larch. “These economically valuable timber species quickly lose value after a wildfire due to staining, insect infestation, decay and checking,” Benson’s final decision notes.

Reforestation, using a mix of species, is planned on 1,072 acres within the salvage area, and 30 acres outside of the project boundary.

Approximately 3.75 miles of temporary road will be used, along with about 49.9 miles of road maintenance and improvement work.

Comments on the project generally fell into two camps, Benson noted.

“Those being to salvage more of the area affected by the fires and those that did not feel that any salvage was appropriate,” he wrote.

Some who commented agreed with the Forest Service’s intention to provide economic benefits to the community, remove fire hazards and re-establish forest conditions.

“I have heard and considered both of these strongly held viewpoints,” Benson wrote. “I believe that I have chosen the best course of action to meet the needs that have been identified for land management in today’s timber market, while protecting resource values.”

Benson said that he considered, but ultimated did not choose the “no action” alternative because there would be no economic benefit.

“There would be no wood products produced, and no contract employment opportunities from work on NFS lands to contribute to the local and regional economy,” he wrote.

The Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact, maps, and other project information are available on the Kootenai National Forest internet website located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55079.