The Flathead National Forest Supervisor recently green-lighted a massive project near Columbia Falls that will construct approximately 25 miles of new trail, reduce fuel loads and more.

Aside from constructing new community trails, the Crystal Cedars Project will reduce fuel loads across 3,700 forested acres near neighborhoods. The treatments include 2,500 acres of commercial timber harvest.

The area includes Crystal Creek, Cedar Flats, Spoon Lake, Blankenship Road and Teakettle Mountain. In total, the project area spans about 27,000 acres and is bounded to south by Columbia Falls and to the west by the Flathead River.

According to a press release, “the work is designed to increase forest survival and regeneration in the face of naturally occurring wildfire and disease and offer a mix of forest products for the local economy.”

Timber harvest and fuels management work is expected to begin as early as this fall. Limited trail layout and construction may begin this summer. Gateway to Glacier, a local nonprofit, will partner with Flathead National Forest in trail network construction and ongoing upkeep.

“The Forest is committed to working along boundaries with private and other public lands to do this essential forest management work to increase our forest’s health and diversity as well as improve conditions when wildfire occurs,” said Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele. “I am pleased to work collaboratively with so many members of the community to realize a project with both recreation and economic value, while providing additional protection from wildfire threats.”

Crystal Cedar has garnered a great deal of public interest in the last few months. Hundreds of comments have been submitted via letter and public conversation since the environmental assessment for the project was released last June, according to the press release. The comment period ended in December.

In general, the public expressed support and concern about several project components, including additional trail opportunities, potential effects to wildlife, and perceived changes and increased recreational use in the area.

The Crystal Cedars Project is one of several proposals from Flathead National Forest as of late that focuses on recreation and fuel load reduction.

For example, another project currently awaiting the OK from Forest Service officials is the Frozen Moose Project. This proposed undertaking is located on the Glacier View Ranger District and encompasses more than 150,000 acres and is bounded to the north by the Canadian border, to the west by the Kootenai National Forest and to the east by the North Fork of the Flathead River.

According to the proposed action document, the area covers six grizzly bear management subunits and eight lynx analysis units. It also includes the Tuchuck-Whale recommended wilderness area, the North Fork designated scenic river segment, and more.

Proposed vegetation treatments include vegetation treatments on approximately 3,500 acres, commercial treatment on approximately 3,500 acres and noncommercial treatment on about 4,600 acres.

For more information on this project and others, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov

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