Trees are left on the ground along Highway 83 from the recent joint effort between the Lolo National Forest and the Montana Department of Transportation to clear snags along the road. Those with firewood permits are allowed to collect firewood on the ground on the east side of the highway.
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Ranger District is collaborating with Montana Department of Transportation Missoula District to remove any standing dead trees, or snags, and dead branches from both sides of Highway 83 north of Seeley Lake before winter. Ideally, all snags that could potentially reach the highway will be cleared all the way to the Summit prioritizing the worst areas first.
Chad Pearson, maintenance superintendent for the Missoula District, said the project is intended to avoid possible natural accidents in the future.
"There's a potential for an old snag or a widow-type tree or any dead tree like that in any type of windstorm to come down and land on the road surface which could potentially cause a serious accident," Pearson said. "The goal is to fall them away from the right of way in Forest Service land. We're just there to provide assurance that if a tree happens to go the wrong way we don't have any cars in danger."
The Forest Service reached out to the Highway Department last year but they were not able to get all of the necessary resources together at the time. This fall they were able to connect.
The Highway Department provided staff to help with traffic control while Forest Service firefighters fell the trees.
This is the first time both organizations have worked together on a project like this in the Seeley Lake area. Seeley Lake District Ranger Quinn Carver said the benefit of collaborating together was being able to share resources.
"We have sawyers, they have ropes and the equipment, so why not do it together?" Carver said.
The District and Highway Department are trying to squeeze in time to work on the project as their schedules will allow. So far they have completed one day of work. Carver said Forest Service firefighters are trying not to fall more trees than necessary.
Carver said it is "open game" on the east side of Highway 83 to gather firewood. A permit is required. Permits can be picked up for free at the Ranger District. Firewood gathering is prohibited on the west side of the highway around the chain of lakes.
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