A pair of logging and forest thinning projects are underway in the Kootenai National Forest’s Libby Ranger District.

Forest officials are asking the public to keep a safe distance from heavy equipment and be aware of heavy truck traffic.

A few miles northwest of Libby is the Pine Phlats project in the Bobtail and Lower Pipe Creek area. 

Work began late last month and includes 183 acres of mastication operations that will be completed by a National Forest Foundation awarded contract. Operations are expected to continue through May, with active days contingent on favorable, seasonal ground conditions. This portion of the project is divided into three units, two units adjacent to the Pipe Creek Road. 

The mastication operations, including heavy equipment, will be visible but public travel on Pipe Creek Road will not be affected.

According to a press release from the Forest, federal and Lincoln County officials selected this project due to it falling within a “priority area” designated in the Montana Forest Action plan for high fire risk and forest health concerns, with 92 percent of the project acres identified as at risk. It also is a prime example of projects that meet the intent of the recently approved master stewardship agreement between the Forest and Lincoln County. A main reason for the agreement development was to help facilitate fuels treatments across the county and forest to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.

These initial mastication treatments will be followed by commercial timber harvest, in partnership with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation via the Good Neighbor Authority. 

The National Forest Foundation mastication portion of the project was solicited through a Request for Quotes (RFQ) for projects under $250,000. For any contractors interested in being notified for future NFF projects, they are asked to reach out to Wyatt Trull at [email protected] or visit https://www.nationalforests.org/rfp.

For any questions or concerns regarding the Pine Phlats project, please contact the Libby Ranger District at 406-293-7773 or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/kootenai/projects/archive/67057.

The other active project is the Fleetwood Jack Timber Sale.

Active timber harvest operations are currently ongoing in the Fleetwood Jack Timber Sale of the Mitchell Jackson Project on the Libby Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest. 

Operations are occurring in one unit adjacent to the Forest Development Road (FDR) 228 between mile post 6 and 7. These operations will continue as long as winter conditions exist, before excess moisture and ground softening occur.

Forest officials ask the public to be aware of increased truck traffic and heavy equipment and use caution if in the area. 

A portion of the Alexander Mountain Trail 270 also runs through the unit, starting at the trailhead for about 0.5 miles down the trail. Anyone utilizing this trail is encouraged to find an alternate route to avoid active operations. 

According to the timber sale prospectus, about 1,850 acres of commercial harvest units are located mainly in the Jackson Creek drainage approximately 10 miles northeast of Libby. 

Douglas fir is the dominant species, western larch, lodgepole pine, western red cedar, grand fir, Engelmann spruce and ponderosa pine are also present. Estimated percent of sale volume by species is as follows: Douglas fir (55.1%), western larch (18.1%), lodgepole pine (13.2%), western red cedar (7.2%), grand fir (4.0%), Engelmann spruce (1.8%), and ponderosa pine (0.6%).

This timber sale is estimated at 114,806 tons of saw timber. Logging systems for this sale are 91% tractor and 9% skyline.

Tractor skidding is planned for distances up to 2,000 feet from planned landing locations however, the average external skidding distance is 1,200 feet.

This sale includes a total of 29.7 miles of road reconstruction, including 0.63 miles of road reconstruction within OU3 of the Libby Asbestos Superfund site.

The sale also contains an appraisal allowance for the construction of 1.5 miles of temporary road.

For more information, please call the Libby Ranger District at 406-293-7773 or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../fleetwood-jack-dxp-timber-sale.