The Tally Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest is planning to conduct multiple spring prescribed fire projects, when weather, fuel conditions, and air quality become favorable.
Burning is expected to start as early as March 2 and will continue through the close of open burning season on June 30. Smoke will be visible from various places in the Flathead Valley depending on the location of the burn units and weather conditions.
Each project follows a Prescribed Fire Burn Plan. The prescribed fire projects are located and designed to be controlled to reduce the potential for adverse effects or escape as a wildland fire. These projects will be in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with Montana State Department of Environmental Quality to reduce the impacts of smoke to our neighbors, cooperator, and surrounding communities.
The project areas include:
Beaver Lake North Fuels Reduction Project – This burn project targets 50 acres of hand piles adjacent to private property 5 miles West of Whitefish.
Valley Face Fuels Reduction Project – This burn project targets 20 acres of hand piles adjacent to private property 8 miles Southwest of Whitefish along the Tally Lake Road.
Reed Canary Grass – These 3 burn projects totaling 9 acres are part of a pilot project intended to aid in the suppression of a nonnative invasive plan species by removing vegetation prior to herbicide application. The project areas include Blast Lake 8 miles Southwest of Whitefish and Martin Ponds 2 miles West of Olney.
For additional information about these projects contact the Tally Lake Ranger District in Kalispell at 406-758-5204.