Prescribed burns planned this fall for areas in Stillwater State Forest

The Stillwater Unit of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is planning to complete some prescribed fire operations this fall.

Careful monitoring of parameters identified in the burn plan including fuel moisture, temperatures, wind, and forecasted weather systems, will determine if conditions are favorable to safely and effectively meet project objectives, according to a release from DNRC. 

Prescribed fire is often used by forest managers to reduce slash generated from forest management activities and prepare the site for regeneration. Low to moderate intensity fire returns nutrients to the soil, releases cone seeds on newly exposed mineral soil, and reduces presence of competing vegetation to better allow new seedlings to establish and thrive.

Planned burns include:

• King Hemlock: 102 acres located on the north end of Whitefish Lake. Smoke will be visible from the head of Whitefish Lake.

• Mystery Fish: 54 acres located near Stryker Ridge. Smoke may be visible east of the Highway 93 corridor from Olney north to Point of Rocks.

• South Fitzpatrick: 42 acres)located in the headwaters of the Stillwater River approximately 6 air miles north east of Stryker on Highway 93.

• Moran North: 47-acres located southwest of Polebridge and pile-burning at the end of the North Fork road. Smoke may be visible from Home Ranch Bottoms, Polebridge and along the North Fork road.

The DNRC Trust Land Management Division manages Montana’s forested state trust lands to generate long-term sustainable revenue to benefit educational institutions, while promoting healthy, resilient and diverse forests for future generations.

 For more information on the Stillwater State Forest call 881-2371 or contact the Unit Manager at dring@mt.gov.