Flathead National Forest released an updated assessment for the 9,500-acre Round Star Project near Whitefish, fulfilling a court order to reanalyze potential impacts to endangered species.

Initially approved in 2024, the project hit a legal hurdle in January 2025, when Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Native Ecosystems Council, Council on Wildlife and Fish, and Yellowstone to Uintas Connection filed suit against the U.S. Forest Service in federal court. The environmental groups alleged the Round Star project violated federal protections for lynx and grizzly bears, both of which are listed as endangered species. 

Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto ruled partially in favor of the environmental organizations on March 31 and remanded the project back to the Forest Service for further review. DeSoto opted against fully vacating the project due to “the limited scope of the errors.” 

The revised environmental assessment clarifies the how the Forest Service determined which project areas qualify for exemptions to federal land management requirements aimed at conserving core lynx habitat and includes an analysis of the cumulative impacts of nearby forestry projects to lynx.  

There are few substantive changes to the project itself. The Forest Service is still proposing 6,600 acres of commercial treatments and 2,866 acres of noncommercial treatments, as well as the construction of 20 miles of roads, about 13 miles west of Whitefish. The project is expected to produce about 81,056 hundred-cubic feet of timber and includes modifications to the Round Meadow Cross-Country Ski Area. 

Project activities may proceed once the revised environmental assessment is approved. 

Comments regarding the revisions to the project’s environmental assessment will be accepted through June 26, 2026. Comments may be emailed to [email protected] with “Round Star” in the subject line. 

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.