Greetings, Beacon Nation! After swinging into the new year with an out-of-time step, I am regaining my rhythm at the top of our first uninterrupted work week in ages. I’m Tristan Scott, here to deliver some insights into a recently approved wildland fire fuels reduction project aimed at protecting the electrical grid near Blacktail Mountain above Lakeside.
Most local readers can recall the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California as the deadliest example in recent memory of failing electrical infrastructure sparking catastrophic wildfire. It remains the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history, killing 85 people, displacing 50,000 residents, burning 153,336 acres, and destroying over 18,000 structures in its path. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the utility company that owned the poorly maintained transmission line, ultimately filed for bankruptcy and pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter.
It would be callous to describe such unspeakable tragedy as a cautionary tale. And yet, as local land managers in the Flathead Valley move forward on a project to treat 364 acres of vegetation crowding the powerline corridor on Blacktail Mountain, which a statewide assessment identified as the second-highest priority for powerline mitigation on federally managed lands in Montana, it’s hard not to think back on the horrific 2018 blaze that destroyed much of the town of Paradise, Calif.
Dubbed the Blacktail Flathead Electric Powerline Corridor Project, it’s a collaboration between the Flathead National Forest, Flathead Electric Cooperative, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and Blacktail Mountain Ski Area. With work set to begin this spring and continue for between three and five years, agency officials say hazardous and dense vegetation conditions exist all along the Blacktail powerline corridor.
“The need for this project is critical and should be considered an emergency when planning for implementation,” according to a scoping letter by the Flathead National Forest.
According to Flathead National Forest Supervisor Anthony Botello, the urgency of the powerline project made it a prime candidate for an emergency action determination. Meanwhile, the Healthy Forest Restoration Act categorically excludes the project from documentation in an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS), allowing agency officials to sidestep the lengthy administrative reviews while exempting it from an objection process.
“The Emergency Action Determination was a good fit for this project” Botello said in a Dec. 31 statement announcing the project’s approval. “The windstorm we had earlier this month really demonstrates the risks of tree strikes near residents and communities on Blacktail Mountain. That risk only increases during the summer, with the potential for wildfire. We have worked quickly and collaboratively with our partners to take action on this hazard right away.”
The Fuels and Forest Health Emergency Action Determination (EAD) was authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and allows the Forest Service to expedite critical, time-sensitive work in areas rated as having high wildfire risk. Combined with recent revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA, the project is also exempt from an administrative objection period and public comment.
The project is moving forward despite administrative findings that it is likely to adversely affect grizzly bears and whitebark pine, which are both listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Despite the project’s categorical exclusion, Botello said the Flathead National Forest “conducted environmental analysis (NEPA analysis) for this project to evaluate potential effects on National Forest System lands and resources connected with the project.” The public was asked to provide input on the proposed action last May, Botello said, and the agency received three comments in support of the project activities.
Flathead National Forest Fire Prevention and Mitigation Specialist Mike West will lead the Blacktail Powerline Project, which he said is “a great example of collaborative planning.”
“We’ve been working closely with Flathead Electric Cooperative, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Blacktail Mountain Ski Area throughout project development to make sure this project successfully increases electrical grid reliability and decreases wildfire risk for the community,” West said.
Overdoses Rise in Flathead County, Stretching Local Resources and Leaving Families Reeling
With a record high of overdose-related EMS calls in Flathead County in 2025, grieving family members and recovering addicts cope with loss while drug enforcement officers and treatment experts seek to bring awareness to the valley’s growing opioid crisis
New Logging Project Proposed in Recommended Wilderness, Roadless Areas Along Wild and Scenic Flathead River
The 67,536-acre Granite Moccasin project area borders Glacier National Park and the Great Bear Wilderness, stretching about 40 miles along U.S. Highway 2 and the Middle Fork Flathead River. Forest officials say it is needed to reduce the risk of wildland fire.
Juvenile Male Arrested Following Threats Against Flathead High School
The individual was charged with separate crimes identified during the investigation this weekend and authorities say there is no indication of an ongoing threat
This holiday season, celebrate the spirit of our community by shopping local. Every purchase you make from a neighborhood business helps support local jobs, families, and the unique character that makes the Flathead Valley such a special place to call home. From thoughtful gifts to festive experiences, our local shops have everything you need to make the season bright. Here’s some information on how to keep it local this holiday season.
Keeping you connected to Northwest Montana.
Whether you’ve been here for decades, or you’re new to the Flathead Valley, our reporting is here to help you feel smarter and in the loop about the issues most important to Northwest Montana. With your support, we can build a more engaged, informed community.
