Rumbling Owl tour highlights potential reverse in forest health

More than a dozen residents stood by the confluence of Holland Creek and the Swan River to hear from Forest Service officials and their plan to log and restore roughly 6,000 acres of land from Rumble Creek to Owl Creek.

The field trip was part of the plan's public meeting, which featured experts in fire, forest health and wildlife. The Forest Service argued that the area needs alteration after previous managers suppressed fire for one hundred years, leaving thick stands at risk for wildfire and disease.

By using select cuts and replanting some areas with resistant tree species, the Flathead National Forest hopes to make a long-standing correction to the ecosystem's health. The project is listed as a Wildland Urban Interface project.

While the actions do not prevent fires, Dowling said tree thinning would limit fire severity and let firefighters safely catch fires.

"We realize more than ever how important this area is to the community, and we don't want to delay implementing what is needed," Dowling said.

The Condon community is in the top 5% in the nation at risk for wildfire, Dowling said. The area is one of 250 priority firesheds across the nation for treatment. Twenty are located in Montana. It is a priority in the Forest Service, Dowling said.

Andre Du Lac, a fire management specialist in the Flathead National Forest, said fires in the project area have been suppressed for so long that trees are missing a few cycles of moderate wildfires, meaning tree stands are overdue for a burn.

"We've had zero fire history in the valley bottom since then at these scales," Du Lac said "So in our stands that are generally maintained by low intensity fire, we've missed between 4 to 6 fire return intervals, and that is part of the treatments that we want to do out there."

Another goal of the project will be to create more primary control lines, shaded fuel breaks and other tools that firefighters can use to stop the spread of flames. In the valley, there will be thinning and prescribed burns to limit the extent of a future fire.

Roy Morris, a wildlife biologist, said Canadian lynx and grizzly bear habitat will be affected, which will require an in-depth environmental impact statement. For grizzlies, road decommissioning and where work can be done near existing roads could prevent habitat loss.

Three units of lynx are listed within the project area. Each unit represents one female's range area. The species is very sensitive, and the project area is one of the farthest locations south the lynx are known to live.

"No lynx critical foraging habitat will be treated outside of the wildland urban interface," Morris said.

Deer and elk winter range exists within the project area as well, which are less of a concern.

Fish biologists said both cutthroat trout and bull trout, which have been in decline in the area, should improve with the expansion of culverts and removal of excess debris from waterways.

Correctly managing the land would also regulate water temperatures and runoff possibility. The goal would be to create better spawning habitat and also make it easier for the fish to travel.

Back at the Swan River, Du Lac explained the goal of the project would be to strengthen the health of specific areas of trees. Looking at the primitive campground, he noted the almost-ancient ponderosa pine beginning to get crowded by lodgepoles and Douglas fir.

Based on the project goals, the site would be cleared of thick stands of younger trees, leaving a more variable population with more open space.

Work on the project could start as soon as spring 2024. People can comment on the scoping of the project until Dec. 13. There will also be a public meeting/field trip of the site on Nov. 29. To comment electronically, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=64924. People can also mail hand-written comments to 200 Ranger Station Road, Bigfork, Montana, 59911, with the subject line "Attn: Christopher Dowling (Rumbling Owl)."