Stillwater proposes timber project

The Montana Department of Natural Resources is proposing a timber harvest on 640 acres of the Stillwater State Forest north of Whitefish.

The DNRC recently released an initial proposal for the Swift Divide timber sale on state forestland 14 miles northeast of Olney and 20 miles north of Whitefish in the northeast portion of the Stillwater. The proposed sale is generally goes from the southeast corner of Upper Whitefish Lake and heading north.

The proposal calls for harvesting between 2 million and 5 million board feet of timber from 640 acres within a 3,100-acre project area.

Les Thomas, management forester with the Stillwater, said he expects the harvest to be on the smaller side of the estimate, but initial study of what may be harvested is still ongoing.

Thomas said field work on the project is expected in October and study involving specialists like biologists and hydrologists, should result in more specific details.

Harvest methods would vary by unit, but are expected to include commercial thinning, group selection, and regeneration harvest such as seed tree, clear-cut with reserves and shelterwood treatments.

The proposal notice says that up to 2 miles of temporary road construction may occur, but no permanent roads are planned. Road maintenance, improvements and reconstruction on existing roads may be needed on existing roads to improve the function and drainage of the roads.

Noxious weed management, pre-commercial thinning and tree planting may also occur under the proposal.

DNRC is in the scoping phase of the project and environmental assessment so all parts of the project are estimates. Wildlife biologists, hydrologists, soil scientists and archaeologists are expected to be consulted.

The proposed harvest is expected to contribute to DNRC’s requirement under state law to sell about 56.9 million board feet of timber annual to contribute revenue to benefit schools and other institutions in the state.

The Montana DNRC invites written comments and suggestions concerning this proposal by Sept. 24 to Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Attn: Les Thomas, Management Forester, Stillwater Unit, P.O. Box 164, Olney, MT 59927 or LesThomas@mt.gov or call (406)881-2665.