Officials with the Kootenai National Forest announced approval of the Caribou Fire Salvage and restoration project, located on the Rexford Ranger District.
The project aims to recover the economic value of fire-damaged timber, reduce hazards and provide reforestation opportunities to steer the forest toward desired conditions as described in the Kootenai National Forest Land Management Plan.
“I am pleased to announce that I have signed the decision on the Caribou Fire Salvage project,” Forest Supervisor Christopher Savage stated in the announcement. “This is the third and final of the large scale projects on the Kootenai National Forest that will address the fire salvage opportunities from last year’s fires. Salvaging fire-killed trees will contribute to employment and income in local communities affected by wildfire.”
Public involvement included discussions with tribes, state and county government, general public, and timber industry representatives.
The forest anticipates salvaging 20 percent of National Forest System lands burned in the 2017 Caribou Fire, which burned a total of nearly 25,000 acres northwest of Eureka.
The project includes salvaging approximately 4,075 acres of dead and dying trees for recovery of economic value, removing hazardous trees along 45.5 miles of road, providing 1,801 acres for reforestation, and soil restoration. Implementation of the decision is expected to begin in late summer of 2018.
The Forest Service advanced the process under the Emergency Situation Determination process (ESD), which was approved by the Interim Chief of the Forest Service. Adjacent to project areas, travelers should be alert for increased vehicle traffic, including log trucks.
The EA and decision, along with supporting documentation, is available on the Kootenai National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53032.
For more information about this project, contact Rexford/Fortine District Ranger Bryan Donner at 406-296-2536.