Flathead releases decision on Taylor Hellroaring timber, trail project

The Flathead National Forest has released the draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact and updated environmental assessment for the Taylor Hellroaring Project.

The project is located in the Tally Lake Ranger District north of Whitefish. The project area includes the Whitefish Face area, which is located in the Whitefish Range, from Haskill Basin to Werner Peak.

District personnel have worked with the local collaborative group, the Whitefish Face Working Group, and have identified the need to treat vegetation and fuels in the area to increase resilience to insects and disease and reduce the risk and severity of large fires, according to the Flathead National Forest.

There is also a need to maintain and improve wildlife habitat and increase rust resistant western white pine and whitebark pine. The project is also designed to provide a range of trail experiences for hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

The proposal includes the development of approximately 28 miles of new trails and one new trailhead. Part of that includes a section of the Whitefish Trail at Holbrook Overlook and the Whitefish Trail crossing at Hellroaring Creek.

The proposal includes a variety of vegetation treatments including regeneration harvest, partial harvest, understory fuel treatment and prescribed burning on approximately 1,815 acres. To facilitate the vegetation treatments approximately 0.8 miles of road construction and adding 3.2 miles of existing road templates to the system could be developed then closed and placed in stored status for future use. Portions of these roads would be trail routes. Approximately a half-mile of temporary roads would be built and then rehabilitated following use.

With the release of the draft decision notice, the project enters into a 45 day objection process where individuals who previously provided comment on the project may object to the activities included in the selected alternative. The draft decision and updated environmental assessment are available online at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50518. Information is also available at the Tally Lake Ranger Station in Kalispell, at 650 Wolfpack Way, or by calling 406-758-5204.