A sizable forest management project encompassing about 51,000 total acres just north of Whitefish in the Tally Lake Ranger District was recently green-lighted by Flathead National Forest officials.

The project will improve forest stand conditions, reduce hazardous fuels, reduce sediment and improve water quality and aquatic species habitat, improve wildlife species habitat and provide wood products for the local economy, according to a scoping document.

The undertaking, which spans part of the Good Creek watershed and is known as the Salish Good Resource Management Project, received approval from Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele on Monday.

The project will allow timber harvest on approximately 6,000 acres and an additional 3,000 acre not under commercial contract will be treated to reduce forest fuels. The timber harvest will provide wood products to local mills.

According to a scoping document, mature forest stands comprise approximately 38% of the project area, a large portion of which is dense lodgepole pine stands originating from fires in 1910 and 1926. These stands are “experiencing suppression mortality and are at increasing risk of mountain pine beetle infestation due to stand average diameter and density.” The document also states a “lack of disturbance from fire or timber harvest” has allowed shade-tolerant species to increase, the majority of which are “more susceptible to root disease and defoliators,” as well.

To complete the project, the U.S. Forest Service will build 3 miles of temporary roads and another 35 miles of permanent administrative road, “some of which will be open to non-motorized public recreation uses when not in-use for log hauling purposes.” The permanent roads will be used for future timber projects in the area, as well.

One document also states dozens of culverts are approved for replacement, removal or improvement. This will “reduce sediment to benefit water quality and aquatic habitat.”

The Forest Service received four comments on the project during the 45-day objection period that ended July 6, including two in opposition from the Swan View Coalition and Native Ecosystems Council environmental and conservation groups. The organizations expressed concerns related to the effects the project would have on wildlife and their connectivity patterns, risks of possible culvert failures, “inadequate” agency responses to comments, inadequate reviews of how the project will impact elk and other species, and more.

To review the final environmental assessment, public comments and responses to those comments and other project details, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47257

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4407 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com