Flathead National Forest — Project Detail

The project would treat hazardous fuels on approximately 364 acres for the purposes of fuels reduction and community infrastructure protection.

The purpose of this project is to improve the diversity and resilience of terrestrial ecosystems and vegetation, reduce fire behavior near communities within the wildland-urban interface, and produce forest products to contribute to the economy.

Site-specific proposal on the Flathead National Forest to address the changes the revised forest plan (2018) made pertaining to suitability of motorized over-snow vehicle use and recommended wilderness areas.

Project treats 479 acres to reduce tree densities and fuel loadings within the wildland urban interface and improve growth and resilience of vegetative communities.

Proposes 39 acres of vegetation treatment to reduce fuel continuity and tree densities within the wildland urban interface and improve the diversity and resilience of vegetative communities

The Flathead National Forest is reviewing a request to upgrade existing telephone facilities and copper cables to fiber optic. In addition, the proposal includes provisions to extend these services to new service areas.

Commercial and noncommercial treatments to reduce wildland fuels, create and maintain fuelbreaks, and increase diversity and resilience of vegetative communities.

Implement removal (pre-commercial thinning)of selected trees in five test plantations on the Flathead National Forest.

Reissuance of outfitter and guide permits within the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

Proposal includes commercial timber harvesting, noncommercial treatments, and prescribed burning to improve diversity and resilience to disturbances such as drought, insects and disease, and wildfires. Project includes road construction/maintenance.

Proposals for 23 temporary outfitter and guiding activities and recreation events across the forest during the summer of 2024.

Three fuel breaks are proposed in strategic areas to slow fire spread and provide areas of less extreme fire behavior from which firefighters can respond to wildfires, thus aiding in wildfire suppression.

The purpose of the proposed project is to enact erosion control measures and to stabilize the northwest portion of the Blankenship Bridge abutment and adjacent upstream riverbank while improving fish habitat.

Proposals for 9 temporary outfitter and guiding activities across the forest during the winter of 2023-2024.

A project to reduce fuels, provide egress to local communities, improve diversity and resilience of vegetative communities, and contribute to the economy.

Salvage harvest of up to 250 acres of timber impacted by the East Fork Fire.

Expand the operating area for Swan Mountain outfitters to allow for greater flexibility and to adjust for changing on the ground conditions. Select current permitted uses would continue in the expanded area with no increase in service use days.

Replacing an underground powerline (300 feet) to a BNSF railroad signal.

The Comprehensive Plan will develop administrative and management objectives and practices and desired conditions for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail on public lands in Forest Service Regions 1 and Regions 6.

Issuance of temporary special use permits authorizing outfitting and guiding activities and recreation events on the Flathead National Forest

Salvage harvest of 250 acres of timber impacted by the Lemonade Fire with construction of  mile of temporary road.

(CANCELLED): The Flathead National Forest is proposing to authorize the use of NFS land by Holland Lake Inc. to expand Holland Lake Lodge.

Approximately 4.5 miles of fiber optic cables are proposed to be installed on National Forest System land on the existing Hungry Horse-Columbia Falls transmission line. Also proposed is to decommission and remove the Teakettle repeater.

The project proposes to install approximately 5,700-feet of single-phase electrical underground line and 2 fiberglass junction boxes along National Forest System Roads 9780 (SEC 23, T20N, R17W) and 90240 (SEC 24, T20N, R17W).

Extend underground primary cable & conduit for approx. 2,240 ft along F.S. land to border of private land. Placement of new cable, junction boxes, vault locations along east side of FS road 315 within existing road footprint at min of 36"

This project proposes to develop a cabin rental opportunity to be added into the Flathead National Forest Cabin Rental Program at Bunker Park (adjacent to Bunker Creek in the South Fork of the Flathead River Drainage).

Logan Health is requesting to host a marathon on September 24, 2022, with up to 1000 participants. Runners will start at Big Creek Campground and run south on the North Fork Road to Columbia Falls.

BIKEternity is requesting a permit to guide a bike tour in August that follows the Great Divide mountain bike route going south. Use is requested on the Kootenai, Flathead, and Lolo NFs. Requesting 100 service days for use on the Flathead NF.

The USDA Forest Service (USFS) Swan Lake Ranger District (SLRD) is proposing to install a National Fire Danger Rating approved remote automated weather station (RAWS) on Blacktail Mountain.

Management at the Whitefish Mountain Resort (WMR) has requested authorization to relocate and extend the Chair 4 ski lift corridor. The purpose of the proposed project is to increase skier circulation while utilizing existing terrain.

The Forest Service is considering a proposal from LEC to install 6,637 feet of electric line to private land.

Special Use Permit Amendment- Add approximately 350 feet of new cable to be installed along Jim Creek Road for approximately 138 feet to the intersection of Peck Lake Road and north along Peck Lake Road for approximately 216 feet to private property.

Proposed route is 300 yards and adjacent to the Essex Creek Rd.The area is managed as closed to motorized over-the-snow use. One single track with a width of 50-inches (snowmobile use only) would be authorized. Period of use would be Dec01-Mar31.

A project to improve the diversity and resilience of vegetative communities, reduce fuel loadings within the wildland-urban interface to result in less intense fire behavior, and provide forest products to contribute to economic sustainability.

A project to reduce fuel loading near private property, improve diversity and resilience of vegetative communities, and provide a mix of forest products to contribute to the local economy.

This project will consider the following actions: Fuels reduction treatments, commercial timber sales, reclamation of roads, and installation and/or approval of existing mountain bike trails.

Blacktail Ski area is requesting a permit to host an Archery event. All activities associated with the event would be within the permitted Blacktail Mountain Ski area boundary.

406 Docks is requesting a permit to transport private boat docks to/from private residences along Swan Lake using the Forest Service Swan Lake Boat Ramp.

Action Rentals is requesting a permit to guide ATV/UTV tours on the Tally Lake and Swan Lake Ranger Districts between June and November. Maximum group size would not exceed 15 and/or 6 vehicles per trip.

Adventure Cycling Association is requesting a permit to guide ten bike tours across the Flathead National Forest between June and September.

Alpine Running Guides is requesting a permit to offer guided running trips to trail runners. Approximately 10-14 participants would be on each trip with 1-2 guides.

Bike Adventures is requesting a permit to guide one bike tour across the Flathead National Forest in August. Maximum number of participants is 25.

Flathead Outdoors is requesting a permit to guide e-bike, e-dirt bike, and dirt bike trips on the Hungry Horse, Glacier View, Tally Lake, and Swan Lake Ranger Districts.

Glacier Ridge Runners is requesting 200 day-use service days to provide watercraft livery services to the Hungry Horse Reservoir and guide UTV tours on selected open-motorized National Forest System Roads on the Hungry Horse Ranger District.

Kiwanis Club of Kalispell is requesting to host a one-day motorcycle ride event in July (date TBD) on system roads and trails. Participants are anticipated to be 30 with a max of 40.

The Last Best Ride is a gravel bicycle race/ride on Sunday August 21st, 2022, partially on the Tally Lake and Hungry Horse/Glacier View Ranger Districts. Race prep and clean-up to occur on Aug 20 & 22. Maximum number of participants will be 550.

Montana Adventure Shuttle is requesting a permit for 50 service days to provide livery service, from June to September, for various locations on Spotted Bear, Hungry Horse, and Swan Lake Ranger Districts.

Montana Outdoor Science Academy is requesting day hikes for 6th-12th grade students, teachers, and chaperones from April through October.

Northwest Montana Adventures is requesting a permit for 200 service days to provide guided ATV/UTV tours on the Tally Lake and Glacier View Ranger Districts between June and October.

USA Cycling (Flathead Cycling) is requesting a permit to host a mountain bike race in June with a maximum of 75 participants. The course would begin/end at Herron Park, with mid-course crossing National Forest System lands.

Whitefish Bike Retreat is requesting a permit to provide shuttle services (livery) on the Tally Lake system roads and trails.

Whitefish Shuttle is requesting shuttle services (livery), guided van tours, guided mountain biking and/or hiking trips on Tally Lake/Hungry Horse/Glacier View system roads and trails from June to October. Maximum group size would be 14 clients.

Big Sky Bible Camp is requesting 98-120 backpacking service days on system trails.

Glacier Institute is requesting to amend their existing priority use permit to include 224 additional user days for hiking on system trails on the Spotted Bear, Tally Lake, and Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger Districts.

Madison Browning is requesting 100 backpacking service days July-Sept. The use would include 1-6 trips with 2-8 people. Hikes would be on the Hungry Horse, Swan Lake, and Spotted Bear Ranger Districts.

Highlander is requesting to host a non-competitive hiking recreation event. The event involves up to 100 people for multi-day hiking with camps at developed campgrounds in the northern Swan Range.

Venture Shuttles is requesting 50 total service days to provide livery services to trailheads forest wide. Transport would include 2-4 people and/or bikes April through October.

A weather station is proposed to be installed on top of Link Moutain. The weather station would operate year-round and report wind, temperature, and precipitation data at hourly intervals. The data would be available for public safety operations.

The purpose of this proposal is to upgrade the historic Big Creek Work Center Administrative Site to address deferred maintenance, safety, and structural stability concerns in several of the buildings and the septic system.

The installation of one 100 X 50 foot corral, split into two 50X50 foot sections ,to secure pack stock at the Smith Creek Trailhead.

Flathead Dirt Riders Association has proposed motocross races conducted by the High Country Motocross Association (HCMA) at the Hungry Horse Racetrack April 30 -May 1. The permit would be issued for a four year timeframe.

Glacier Institute is proposing to expand its winter educational class opportunities to include several areas that are not covered under their current permit area.

North Valley Search and Rescue is proposing to conduct a 2-day advanced backcountry riding snowmobile clinic/training for select North Valley Search and Rescue and Law Enforcement members (estimating 10 students and 4 instructors).

The Patrol Fund has proposed to conduct a Level 2 Avalanche Course on side-country terrain of Whitefish Mountain Resort. The dates planned are February 18-22 with 12 participants. This permit would be issued for a four year timeframe.

200 user days for snowmobile tours December 15 through March 31 on over snow routes on the Tally Lake Ranger District and Swan Lake Ranger District.

Glacier Nordic Club has requested to host a cross-country ski event in the Cedar Flats area north of Columbia Falls. Event dates are planned for January 20-24. The estimated maximum number of participants is 250.

Northwest Montana Adventures has requested 200 user days to provide guided day-use snowmobile tours from December 1 through March 31.

Six Maritime, Inc. is proposing to provide winter mobility training for approximately 50 Naval Special Warfare SEALs in the Flathead Valley.

Whitefish Outfitter Tours has requested 200 user days to provide guided day-use snowshoeing and cross-country skiing activities from December 1 through March 31.

Whitefish Vertical Adventures has requested 50 user days to provide day-use backcountry ski guiding adjacent to Whitefish Mountain Resort from December 15 through March 31.

Glacier Adventure Guides has requested 75 user days to conduct guided day-use cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and educational classes from December 1 through March 31. Maximum party size is 8.

Snowbike Nation has requested 200 user days to provide guided day-use snowbike tours from December 1 through March 31. Locations include open over-the-snow areas in multiple areas across the Flathead NF.

A project to improve diversity and resilience of vegetative communities to insect and disease outbreaks, and provide a mix of forest products to contribute to the local economy.

Lincoln Electric Company is requesting to bury 6,000 feet of new power line across National Forest System lands to service private lands.

Extend InterBel's existing transport network to a new interconnect point north of Kalispell and ensure continued reliability of telecommunications and broadband service for local area residents and businesses.

This project proposes to harvest insect and disease infected trees, salvage blowdown, and remove heavily damaged standing trees near Schmidt Creek.

The proposed actions include removing the pumphouse structure and water storage tank at the upper site and removal of a pumphouse structure, buried cistern and pipe, and chain-link fence at the lower site.

A project to reduce fuels, provide egress to local communities, improve diversity and resilience of vegetative communities, and contribute to the economy.

A project to develop a new gravel pit near the intersection of Highway 83 and Barber Creek road.

Management at the Whitefish Mountain Resort (WMR) has requested authorization to relocate and extend the Chair 4 ski lift corridor. The purpose of the proposed project is to increase skier circulation while utilizing existing terrain.

A project to reduce fuels by hand treatments on National Forest System Lands, Montana State Trustlands, and private property.

The purpose of the proposal is to provide access to private property using NFSR #91061.

Glacier electric cooperative wants to bury an existing overhead electric line that is in an avalanche run-out zone near Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad snowshed 7. The buried line will be 550 ft. from existing utility corridor.

This project would remove a fish barrier on Hall Creek and restore the stream to its historical shape.

MEC has requested to bury 660 feet of new power line across National Forest System lands to private property located in Township 21 North, Range 17 West in Section 4.

A project to hand thin seedling and sapling size trees and install and plant a whitebark pine tree improvement test plantation.

A project to expand the existing Whale Gravel Pit.

Leakage and declining integrity of the primary dam at Lion Lake was discovered. This project proposes repairing Lion Lake Dam.

A project to reduce fuel loading in the wildland-urban interface, improve resiliency of vegetative communities, improve aquatic ecosystems, and provide forest products in the North Fork.

Authorize landowners to access their private property over 3,660 feet of closed National Forest System Roads. Prior to the placement of a gate on road, the landowner used the roads to access their property and presently have no access.

A project to allow Montana Department of Transportation to construct a stockpile site and equipment storage area on National Forest System lands near Essex, MT.

Mechanical fuels reduction within the wildland urban interface between the towns of Hungry Horse and West Glacier (includes some prescribed burning)

A project to remove hazardous fuel loading in WUI created by extensive blown over timber stands from aggressive winter/spring winds. Area is in designated landscapes for reducing both wildfire risk/extent and future insect/disease infestations.

A project to Improve forest stand conditions, reduce hazardous fuels, reduce sediment and improve water quality, and provide commercial and personal-use wood products.

Up to 15 trips for guided day hikes under the Journey to Wellness program with The Summit Health Club. Hikes would be approved on various open Forest system trails on the Tally Lake and Swan Lake Ranger District.

Project will authorize Whitefish Shuttle to provide livery and guided biking and hiking opportunities in various locations of the Tally Lake Ranger District.

Reissuance of existing outfitter and guide permits in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

A project to reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland-urban interface, improve the health and diversity of forest vegetation communities, and provide a range of trail-based recreational opportunities near the community of Columbia Falls.

The purpose of the Hellroaring Basin Improvements Project is to respond to a proposal by Whitefish Mountain Resort to provide additional winter recreation opportunities within the existing ski permit area boundary.

Feature film on National Forest System Lands including 3 actors, 25 production staff. Six days of filming between September 12-22, multiple locations on Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger Districts.

A project to increase forest resilience, reduce fuels, and provide a range of non-motorized recreational experience by encouraging trail connectivity while maintaining terrestrial wild life habitat.

The purpose of the project is to provide fiber-optic telecommunication to Bootjack Lake Road (National Forest System Road 351) area residents.

The Flathead NF is revising their forest plan and preparing an amendment providing relevant direction from the NCDE Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into the forest plans for the Lolo, Helena, Kootenai, and Lewis & Clark National Forests.

Proposal to relocate the existing Patrol Ridge radio repeater from its existing site to approximately 1 mile southwest along Patrol Ridge to a better location for radio communication coverage.

The Foy's to Blacktail Trail Marathon would allow for approximately 13 miles of a marathon to be run on existing roads, and trails within and surrounding the Blacktail Mountain Resort area.

This project is needed because the popularity of dispersed recreation around Van Lake has increased, leading to increased effects to the surrounding area.

Scoping of a permit to allow a portion of an ultra-marathon to occur on up to 14 miles of existing roads and trails within the Whitefish Mountain Resort permit area.

Restore the natural hydrologic function of Lindbergh meadow and improve water storage.

The proposed action is to authorize minor modifications of ski runs in five locations to improve skier experience by reducing grade reversals and to improve safety by increasing visibility and decreasing congestion and speed differences.

This project would provide vegetation, transportation, and recreation management in the project area on the Hungry Horse-Glacier View and Spotted Bear Ranger Districts.

The project will reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect and disease infestation, reduce risk of uncharacteristic wildfire, and move existing disturbance regimes towards natural disturbance regimes.

A project to salvage trees affected by the mountain pine beetle on an estimated 1309 acres of NFS lands. Project will utilize 0.8 miles of existing road, 0.5 miles of skid trails and 3.1 miles of temporary road construction to access affected timber.

Proposal to harvest timber and interplant on approximately 1245 acres of NFS lands. An estimated 1185 acres of this harvest activity is located within the Wildland Urban Interface.

Multiple prescribed burns in the lower elevations of the Swan Valley primarily east of Hwy. 83 extending from the Swan State Forest on the north to Holland Creek on the south.

The project involves forest health and fuel reduction treatments (harvest and precommercial thinning) in the Swan River Valley, south and west of Condon on the west side of MT Highway 83 to the south end of Lindbergh Lake.

Vegetation management proposal in western larch stands to increase understanding of long-term ecosystem responses to several broad-spectrum climate change adaptations as part of a multi-region study.

A project to reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface, improve the health and diversity of forest vegetative communities, restore aquatic habitat and hydrologic processes, and enhance recreational opportunities.

Construct 140 feet of road across NFS land to private property.

Relocating the existing Polebridge boat ramp and facilities 150 yards downstream on the North Fork of the Flathead River

Proposal to add Anna Creek Workcenter to the cabin rental program

Proposal involves issuing a new 10 year cross-country ski trail permit to Izaak Walton Inn (renewal of an existing permit).

Proposal to grant a nonexclusive perpetual easement for use of an existing road (known locally as East Red Meadow Drive) for legal easement access into private lands.

An analysis to update the Allotment Management Plan for the Swaney Range Allotment consistent with Forest Plan goals and objetives while protecting natural resources.

Realign an access road near the summit of Big Mountain within the Whitefish Mountain Resort Permit Area and rehabilitate a section of the existing access road to provide safer access.

A project to manage fuels within the Whitefish Municipal Watershed.

To stabilize and restore the Blacktail Road from the end of the Flathead County jurisdiction, milepost 3.43, to the top of Blacktail Mountain at milepost 13.87

Project will reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire and reduce fuels; improve habitat for wildlife; improve forest health; improve watershed conditions; remediate invasions of exotic species; and provide wood products.

A project to recover merchantable wood fiber, reforest desired tree and shrub species, prevent the creation of a fish barrier, improve public safety; this project also includes site specific amendment.

New powerline 1,00 feet and 30" wide

Open a log jam that has formed in Big Creek to provide upstream passage for bull trout to historic spawning reaches.

This project would occur in an insect and disease area designated under section 602 and 603 of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act; one objective of this project will be to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase resilience to, insect & disease.

A project to Reauthorize the special use permit for Beyond Boundaries to provide guided mountain bike experiences on NFS trails.

A project to improve forest tree structure and species composition and reduce hazardous fuels by promoting stands that are resilient to insects and disease.

Watershed restortion project to improve fish habitat in the Jim and Cold Creek Watersheds. These two watersheds contain important bull trout spawning habitat. Jim Creek is considered "impaired" by the MT DEQ.

Extend a primary single phase 7,200 volt underground distribution line to serve the groomer shed at the snowmobile parking lot on Canyon Creek Rd. Roughly 1000' to the east FEC maintains a line parallel to the North Fork Rd and wishes to extend.

Install a fish migration barrier to reduce displacement of genetically pure or nearly pure cutthroat trout by non-native rainbow trout in Smith Creek in the Swan Valley.

Currently, the Hall Lake Trailhead is located on a Lake County road easement resulting in recreation users parking and impacting adjacent private land. This project proposes to relocate the trailhead to the end of an existing road.

Salvage of fire-affected trees within a small portion of a 5000 acre fire in the Condon Mountain area on the Swan Lake Ranger District

A project to improve forest tree structure and species composition, reduce hazardous fuels, maintain and improve wildlife habitat, improve recreation opportunities, maintain water quality and aquatic habitat, and provide commercial wood products.

The purpose and need for this project is to improve visitor amenities at the summit, improve skier safety, and improve water delivery infrastructure by expanding the summit house, building a new patrol cabin, and drilling a redundant well.

Reissuance of existing Wild and Scenic River Outfitter and Guide permits.

The project will remove identified hazard trees within Lost Johnny Point Campground that are 1.5 tree lengths from developed campsites, roads, facilities and travel routes.

Request to issue an Outfitter and Guide Special Use Permit to Flathead Off-Road Adventures who proposes to provide family adventure tours on ATV's on the Blacktail Wild Bill ORV NRT and other Forest Service roads open to highway legal vehicles.

This project proposes to authorize Missoula Electric Cooperative to modify their electric transmission in several sections in the Swan Valley, Montana.

The project would designate a less than 5 acre area as an administrative site for crushing aggregate and rock rip-rap development. The site is located off Piper Creek Road (NFS road #966) on Roads #91457 and #91456.

A project to amend the Big Mountain Communications Site Plan to allow a one-time change for KUKL (90.1 FM, Montana Public Radio, a customer of permittee Weese Enterprises) to broadcast at its current FCC authorized power of 1000 watts.

Proposal to expand the existing gravel pit at Demers Ridge in the North Fork of the Flathead River. Removal of rock will occur within the disturbed footprint of the pit with the addition of up to 4 acre of new disturbance to the east

This project would grant the Montana Department of Natural Resources and easment to construct two segments of permanent road, over existing templates, on National Forest System lands.

Covering an exposed natural gas pipeline in Essex Creek