Flathead National Forest is set to kick off a 2,800-acre commercial timber project near Blacktail Mountain in fall 2027.

The West Truman Project will reduce tree densities and wildland fuels, improve the resilience of forest stands and promote timber production, according to an April 14 decision notice signed by Swan Lake District Ranger Sarah Canepa.  

The project includes 939 acres of improvement cuts, 802 acres of seed tree treatments, 736 acres of commercial thinning and 346 acres of shelterwood treatments on national forestlands between Kila and Blacktail Mountain. More than five miles of temporary roads will be constructed as part of the project. 

First proposed in October 2025, the West Truman Project received expedited review under a categorical exclusion for small-scale forestry projects in wildfire-prone areas. Projects meeting criteria for the designation are exempt from some of the typical public review processes, including the publication of an environmental assessment. 

The project also qualified for an emergency action determination introduced by the Trump administration in April 2025, which allowed the U.S. Forest Service to forgo analysis of alternative prescription options. 

Internal environmental reviews concluded the project would have no effect or was not likely to adversely affect threatened and endangered species in the area, excepting grizzly bears.  

“Forest Service biologists have made a determination of ‘may affect, likely to adversely affect’ for grizzly bears due to the environmental baseline, including low amounts of secure habitat and existing levels of motorized use in the analysis area,” reads the project’s categorical exclusion review. 

Forest Service officials concluded that the risk of disturbance or displacement of grizzly bears was low. 

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 406-758-4433 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.