SWAN VALLEY - The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is planning to complete prescribed fire operations this fall.
A prescribed fire burn plan is created for each project to establish control measures to meet project objectives. Careful monitoring of fuel moisture, temperatures, relative humidity, wind and forecasted weather systems ensures parameters identified in the burn plan are met and determines if conditions are favorable to safely and will meet project objectives.
Prescribed fire is used by forest managers to reduce slash generated from forest management activities and prepare treated forest stands 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. The reduction of slash creates breaks in fuel across the landscape and decreases the potential for large fire growth in treated areas.
Smoke will be visible in the Flathead and Swan Valleys, near Swan Lake, and from Highway 83. All prescribed burns will follow Montana Air Quality Standards and are coordinated with the Montana State Department of Environmental Quality to reduce the impacts of smoke.
Swan River State Forest - In addition to the broadcast burn units listed below, pile burning will occur across the entire Swan River State Forest.
• Swan Wood Unit 23-07 – (88 acres) Located off Fatty Creek Road.
• Cilly 349 Unit 04-16 – (6 acres) Located in South Lost Creek Drainage on the bottom third of the slope.
• Cilly 349 Unit 09-14 – (15 acres) Located on Cilly Ridge south of South Lost Creek.
• Cilly Excaline Unit 10-05 – (11 acres) Located near Cilly Creek off Soup Creek Road.
For more information on the Swan River State Forest call 406-754-2301 or contact the Unit Manager at mattarno@mt.gov.
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