The Bitterroot National Forest has made significant changes to two timber sales based on feedback from potential purchasers and will soon be accepting new bids on the projects. The changes come after the Forest received zero bids earlier this month. One of the projects, Como Campground, will remove nearly 700,000 board feet of timber for use in Montana sawmills.
“We have made substantial changes to these timber sales based on feedback from potential buyers,” said Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor Julie King. “Changes include dropping the minimum bidding price and extending contract terms to allow companies more time to complete the work. We hope these changes based on feedback from the industry and on current market conditions, result in some bids on these important projects.”
The 210-acre Como Campground sale is located on the Darby Ranger District and will salvage beetle killed trees in and around the Lake Como Recreation Area. Work includes removing dead, dying and some live trees from campgrounds and popular recreation areas on the south and north sides of the lake. Removing the trees is necessary because they present a hazard to the public, and if not removed, could result in the closure of campgrounds or other areas. The removal of the dead trees will accentuate the green, live trees and also help strengthen remaining trees against future beetle attacks.
The Forest has made additional changes to a second timber sale of approximately 40 acres of already cut and stacked logs in the Sapphire Mountains. The Up Top logs were harvested this summer to build a fire line around the 41 Complex fires on the Darby Ranger District. The Forest has also dropped minimum bidding prices and extended contract terms on this sale, among other changes.
For more information on the timber sales including a prospectus, bid form, or bid deadline dates, contact the Darby Ranger District at 821-3913 or visit the Bitterroot National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot.