By Michael Howell
In an effort to involve the public and the County Commissioners at the earliest stage possible in the development of a project proposal called the Westside Collaborative Vegetative Management Project, the Forest Service has held an open house meeting and discussed it at a meeting with the County Commissioners for input. In the past, the public was not generally involved in the initial “conceptual” phase of developing projects on the forest and the law does not require it. Once the proposal is fine-tuned based on this public involvement, it will enter the official scoping process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and further public comment will be sought in that process. It is by participating in that formal review process that members of the public and local governments gain standing to make official objections to the project and contest it in court.
At a commissioners’ meeting on July 27, West Fork District Ranger Ryan Domsalla called it “the last remaining treatment on the Westside.” The area under consideration stretches from Roaring Lion Creek and Roaring Lion Road to Lost Horse. The types of treatment being proposed include aspen enhancement, wildlife habitat enhancement, non-commercial thinning, plantation thinning, commercial sky-line logging and tractor logging. According to Domsalla, the preliminary estimate of the timber volume to be removed and sold commercially is from 6 to 7 million board feet.
Domsalla said the purpose of the project was to reduce fuel levels in the area, lower the crown fire hazard, increase the resiliency of the forest to improve resistance to fire, insects and disease, and to harvest timber. About 1,438 acres would be commercially logged and about 1,048 acres would undergo non-commercial thinning. Four miles of permanent roads will be constructed and five miles of temporary roads.
The Forest Service received a $135,900 grant from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation as part of the Healthy Forest and Focus Initiative endorsed by Governor Bullock to do the prep work on the project.
According to Domsalla, the biggest issues raised at the open house meeting had to do with the concerns of local landowners over the physical and legal aspects of accessing the project area; the construction of permanent roads; the potential impacts to ditches and other infrastructure; and the noise, dust and traffic associated with timber removal.
“My goal is to mitigate all these concerns to the greatest degree possible,” said Domsalla.
Commissioner Greg Chilcott raised the issue of the county potentially taking over the roads involved in the project and Domsalla said that if that provision in the law is asserted by the county it does mean that the county would assume all maintenance responsibility, jurisdiction and liability for the roads.
Chilcott also expressed concern about the county’s Natural Resource Policy that calls for no net loss of roads on the forest and his concerns that the roads being built won’t really be open to the public.
Domsalla notd that the roads would be open to the public on foot and horseback, but would be closed by a gate to motorized use to protect elk habitat.
Forest Supervisor Julie King stated that the county’s policy was a programmatic document meant for planning and would come directly into play in the planning process. She said site specific comments related to a specific proposal, like the one being developed, would be much more helpful than a general plan or policy statement.
County Road Supervisor Dusty McKern said that the county had an aging hard surface system and a reduced work staff.
“We are too busy keeping up with other duties to follow you around fixing up roads,” he said. McKern said he would like the Forest Service to take over maintenance on the roads that will be receiving use by the timber haulers during the process and return them afterwards in the same condition.
Domsalla said that the Forest had no intention to take over jurisdiction of any county roads, but could work out potential maintenance sharing agreements.
Stew Dobbins, owner of Deer Crossing Bed and Breakfast, said that as a property owner and business owner he was scared stiff about the noise, dust and traffic.
“It scares the heck out of me and I wonder if my business will live through this,” he said.
Mike Jeffords, who characterized himself as the “big mouthed motorized use advocate” said that he supported the project. He said there was already no access on the westside due to the wilderness area and inventoried roadless areas as well as the private land issues.
“Just because motorized use can’t use the west side is no reason to be against this project,” said Jeffords. “I’m supporting this project because it’s a benefit to the whole community.”
Commissioner JR Iman expressed concern about roads being decommissioned rather than placed in storage because leaving the road base intact would allow for emergency entry to fight fires.
The Forest Service hopes to present the draft proposal for public consideration next month.
For additional information about the project contact Chris Fox, Stevensville Ranger District, at 777-7415.