Logging proposed west of Whitefish, Kalispell

The Flathead National Forest has proposed logging, thinning and prescribed burning on 14,532 acres of land west of Whitefish and Kalispell. 

The proposal, named the Cyclone Bill Project, is located about 13 miles west of Whitefish. The project area encompasses about 40,880 acres stretching from around Tally Lake on the north end to just north of Ashley Lake on the south. But work has been proposed only on 14,532 acres within that project area, scattered across 504 individual units of varying size. According to a proposed action released last week, the project aims to reduce tree density and fuel loading, improve vegetation diversity and resilience to disease, and offer economic benefit through logging in an area that Montana, Flathead County and the U.S. Forest Service have prioritized for active forest management. 

U.S. Forest Service

The Forest Service plans to analyze the proposal with an environmental assessment this year. As it embarks on its analysis, the agency is currently accepting public comments on the proposal until April 7. Comments can be emailed to comments-northern-flathead-tally-lake@usda.gov with the subject “Cyclone Bill Project,” or mailed or hand-delivered to: U.S. Forest Service, Tally Lake Ranger District, Attn: Kira

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