Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — Project Detail

Dan Bossell has proposed motorized ingress and egress his property in the Elkhorns Geographic Area utilizing National Forest System Roads 424 (Crow Creek Road) & 277 (South Fork Crow Creek Road). Signed FANEC available at: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/nnekcp1eaewrhuz26nl1e3otuu7twe7k

The objective of this project is to permit long-term and recurrent access to private property on Forest Service Roads in the Elkhorns Geographic area via special use permit. Signed FANEC available at: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/mvwkgwv3jkwhyz484ymv7is234ug7hlk

3 separate private land owners have proposed motorized ingress and egress their properties in the Elkhorns Geographic Area utilizing National Forest System Roads. Signed FANEC available at: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/3uph42nwtr02667nb5finf8jj2rj908f

Backfilling hazardous mine opening features using waste material and native materials surrounding the features.

Up to 3,000 acres have been identified for potential treatments including hand thinning/piling, small tree thinning, mechanical thinning, which may require temporary road and prescribed fire.

Proposal to upgrade the Red Mountain Flume by replacing its final 2.5 miles with a buried pipe, eliminating major water loss and improving the reliability of Helena's drinking water supply from Banner Creek to the Ten Mile Water Treatment Plant.

This project will obliterate ~100 miles of non-system roads in the Upper Sheep and Headwaters Sheep Creek drainages to improve water quality and fish habitat.

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

Along Priest Pass Rd. (FSR 335),0.5 miles of fiber optic have been proposed to be installed on National Forest System lands.

Last Chance Nordic Ski Club to expand grooming activities at the MacPass cross country ski trail system. Expansion would include grooming 2 miles of existing routes for cross country ski use, December to March, and plowing 0.5 acres of parking area.

The project would reduce fire risk by removing the existing overhead primary lines and pones and installing new underground primary conductor.

Proposal to relocate the Monument Radio Repeater from Monument Lookout Rental Cabin's attic to a new, standalone enclosure near the cabin. Relocation will allow for easier maintenance access and improved reliability of safety communication networks.

Proposed Plan of Operations for mining-related activities on NFS lands. Operator would utilize mechanized equipment to remove slope debris that has sloughed to the Sammy K portal and adit landing areas to ensure drainage features remain functional.

3 Rivers to replace outdated copper cables in Neihart with fiber optic cables to bring high-speed internet to rural residents. Construction will occur in two phases, beginning mid-2024 and ending by Summer 2025, using minimally disruptive techniques.

City of Helena to replace 6 concrete water intake structures in the Ten Mile Creek drainage, 3 are on National Forest. Structures would be replaced 1-2 at a time, using temporary dams and channels to keep water flowing and maintain drinking water.

Proposed 2024 Plan of Operations for valuable mineral activities on National Forest land in the Washington Creek drainage. Operator to utilize a mini-excavator to expose bedrock in an 80 foot by 80 foot area of interest. Access via existing roads.

Transatlantic Mining Corp. to conduct underground core drilling for valuable metallic mineralization from within an existing mine adit located west of Miller Mountain in upper Johnnies Gulch. No road improvement/construction or veg removal proposed.

Northwestern Energy to construct a new aerial powerline on private property near Unionville. Project will require the utilization of a line truck, backhoe and work truck. Equipment overland travel on Forest land will be minimal.

This project has been cancelled due to the applicant withdrawing the project.

Exploration drilling operations and geophysical surveys would be conducted to reinforce and build upon geologic mapping and geophysical survey information collected during previous investigation of the project area.

Silver King Radio Repeater Shelter to be replaced with prefabricated unit on ridge 1 mile away. Shelter footprint will be approximately 10-foot by 10-foot sitting on 4 2-foot by 2-foot pads. Helicopter transport required due to no road access.

Northwestern Energy to replace power poles, upgrade power pole equipment, relocate and add power poles along their existing powerline right-of-way between 1973 Rimini Road to the intersection of Rimini Road and Minnehaha Creek Road.

Hogback Lookout has not been used in several years resulting in a deteriorated structure. A determination was made that Hogback Lookout is excess to Forest Service. This will include the relocation of the electrical service to a nearby radio tower.

The US Air Force in the lead agency working on an EIS that has activities on the National Forest to improve to existing launch facilities and upgrades to fiber optic lines. Documents available at: www.gbsdeis.com

2Bs Environmental Inc. to investigate a potential mineral deposit and extract minerals on NFS lands. Sections will be excavated in sequence, with material processing occurring off-site. Disturbed land will be restored through reshaping and reseeding.

This project will create fuel breaks in the South Fork of the Judith along Forest Service roads, trails and power line corridors in areas or units totaling approximately 2,992 acres.

This analysis identifies the visitor use capacity on National Forest System lands only, on the Nez Perce National Historic Trail to assist in the protection and management of trail resources.

MT DOT will install a new Roadway Weather Information Station (RWIS) along Hwy 279 (Flesher Pass Rd) for road data and public information. The RWIS will be powered by a new aerial power line from an existing Northwestern Energy powerline corridor.

Less than half a mile of Forest Service Road 293 will be rerouted to mitigate safety concerns caused by flooding and Lincoln Telephone's buried fiber optic line will be rerouted to accommodate the rerouted road.

Repair two existing spring developments and construct 6 new spring developments to provide water to livestock in the Bald Hills and Tenderfoot grazing allotments.

Townsend Ranger District is proposing to treat 2,977 acres uses various harvest methods in order to be responsive to the increase in insect activity and minimize potential wide-scale mortality.

A sweet smelling toilet will be installed at a dispersed campsite at the junction of Divide Road and Williams Mountain Road. The Forest Service is partnering with Kings Hill Grooming Association to complete the project.

New special use proposal for ingress and egress to private property parcel.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will mount a stream gage, comprised of a radar stage sensor, wire weight reference stage gage, water temperature sensor, and a stream gage box, on Sheep Creek Road Bridge.

Construct a fence around the Riparian area in the 4 mile meadows to keep cattle out of the riparian area and allow the area to recover and improve in condition.

Trailhead development and campground and river access at the newly acquired Falls Creek addition.

The current trail is steep in sections and is impacted by year-round erosion. The trail reroute will improve user safety by keeping the grades at a constant 5 to 10 percent and reduce the need for constructed drainage features.

Rerouting two sections of two trails so that they no longer fall across private property.

This SEIS updates, reviews and corrects the project analysis and make necessary changes to the project including the removal from implementation acres outside the 2005 Powell County CWPP as well as removing additional treatment to help lynx habitat

NorthWestern Energy will remove an aerial powerline and bury a new powerline along the north side of Highway 12, which will cross under the highway and continue on to the southern MacDonald Pass communications site and to Cromwell Dixon campground.

NorthWestern Energy will rebuild 1 mile of existing powerline within their powerline right-of-way authorized under the special use permit that crosses Jimtown Road off the North East end of Canyon Ferry Lake.

Whitebark pine seedlings will be planted at 12x12 spacing in the spring of 2023.

Planting approximately 230 acres of lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and western larch in areas that have not regenerated to desired species and stocking densities after the 2015 Sucker Creek Fire.

For a special use term permit with the Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild group for expansion of the existing sculpture park onto the Forest Service parcel of land.

A proposal to approve a Plan of Operations for placer mining-related activities that would be conducted on National Forest System (NFS) lands (Big Belt Mtns) administered by the Townsend Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.

Convert Ear Mountain Cabin into a Forest Service Cabin Rental

Improvement of existing Summit Trailhead (hardening of parking surface, improvement of drainage and signage, installation of new hitch rails). Area is approximately 3 acres.

The Townsend Ranger District is proposing to treat 250 acres of National Forest System Lands affected by the Woods Creek fire using a combination of salvage harvest, sanitation thinning harvest and reforestation actions.

Drill a 150' deep well and pipelines to feed stock tanks.

Installation of a livestock well, a short pipeline and two stock tank in the Dahlman Allotment (South end of the Elkhorn Mountains).

Little Camas Placer operation is located adjacent to Little Camas Creek in the Big Belt Mountains. The proposed activity will take place between June 2021 and September 2021. The proposal includes sampling 1 cubic yard at 11 different sites.

Mineral access proposal for use of existing routes and construction of 0.6 mile of temporary road. Access and mining exploration/ excavation activities are in accordance with laws governing locatable minerals on National Forest Land

The proposed project is to help restore and maintain the structure, function, composition and ecological connectivity of the forest system in order to increase resiliency to future natural disturbance events like wildfire, insects, and disease.

This project will establish a Douglas-fir Realized Gain pine test plantation to evaluate the gains obtained from tree improvement by comparing the performance of Douglas-fir trees from different forests and geographic locations.

Forest Plan revision for the Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests.

This project would assess stand health within aspen stands in the Sheep Creek watershed and develop a plan to restore/enhance those stands.

The Boulder-Baldy Project would treat approximately 6,043 acres of vegetation using a combination of intermediate and regeneration harvest methods. Site preparation burning would be use in some units treated with regeneration harvest methods.

This project will thin 7"dbh and under Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir with a preference of thinning Doug-Fir. This is a first step in returning the area to some similarities of its historical form. There would also be a reduction in ladder fuels.

Install a water development covered under the Middleman project in the drainage off of Bowmans and FS road 138.

Authorize pesticide use permit and use of normally prohibited activities in designated wilderness. Would allow fish treatment and stocking project by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Scapegoat Wilderness.

The tract is 0.5 acres and located within the SW1/4NW1/4 Section 9, T9N, R5W. The description is an innocent permanent habitable structure encroachment under Small Tract Act.

Issue a special use communication lease to NorthWestern Energy to authorization construction, use and maintenance of a shelter, tower and propane tank to house communication equipment at the existing communication site located on Porphyry Peak.

This waterline project will attach and extend approximately 150 feet to the private property boundary in Section 27. The proponent will use an excavator to dig a trench approximately 4-6 feet in depth, approximately 1-2 feet wide.

Proposed activities are designed to address the components of developing, maintaining and improving forested conditions across the landscape by improving resiliency to disturbances while improving conditions for public and firefighter safety.

This project will Obliterate 2-3 miles of riparian jeep trail from Yogo Hill to Arch Coulee and relocate- some short sections of jeep trail from Arch Coulee west to private inholding that arc causing resource damage.

Project will enhance a spring development in the Whitetail Allotment in the Little Belts by adding a 10 foot in diameter stock tank and about 70 yards of pipeline.

40th Helicopter Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, will conduct helicopter landings and alternate insertion/extraction (AIE) hovers within USFS lands in order to further aircrew training. This is a renewal of a previous permit, which expired Dec 31 2020.

These implementation actions are part of an ongoing effort to address Geology/Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Programs and address the physical safety hazards presented by hazardous mine openings(HMO)located on National Forest System lands.

The patented claim holder will utilize tracked/wheeled equipment to excavate and transport sapphire bearing ore from mining operations on adjacent patented (Garfield and others) mining claims, private property and across approx. 250ft of USFS land.

Build a 2/3rd mile trail adjacent to the Sculpture in the Wild Park, across HWY 200 from the Lincoln Ranger District. The trail will be a figure 8 for eventual park expansion and as a groomed XC ski trail.

The Horsefly and Black Diamond fires burned in 2019 in whitebark pine habitat up to and along the Continental Divide. Whitebark previously existed in this area. Planting is recommended to help restore and maintain whitebark pine populations.

This is for non-winter motorized use to provide a manageable system of designated public motorized and non-motorized access routes and areas.

The purpose of the Elk Smith Project is to address fuel accumulation and continuity in the project area. The original EA for this project is project number 42680, which this analysis is supplementing.

A project to obliterate roads not identified as needed, or adopted as part of the official transportation network, in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District Travel Management Plan, Record of Decision for Badger-Two Medicine, March, 2009.

In August 2016 a ROD was completed. Wildfires in 2017 changed conditions in the area which now requires additional analysis. The new analysis is examining about 1500 acres of vegetation treatment, including 0.9 miles of temporary road.

This vegetation project would improve forest health and landscape resiliency, reduce wildfire hazards, and provide wood products to local and regional economies.

The proposal is for a small 3 person placer operation that would screen remnant tailing piles for valuable minerals. The operator would excavate and process the top 2-3' of tailing piles. The mineral would then be processed through a trommel.

Proposal for a lode mine which includes re-opening and securing an existing adit.

The Lincoln Ranger District is looking to improve the trailhead at Rogers Pass in order to reduce resource impacts to Pass Creek, increase safety to motorists and CDNST users, increase the visibility of the site, and improve the visitor experience.

Due to heritage concerns we re-consulted on a past placer mining project.

This project is to plant ponderosa pine seedlings at a 12'x12' spacing (~303 trees per acre) across identified units, with the exception of the roadside fuel break which will be planted at a lighter density.

This project represents an ongoing effort by the Region 1 forests Minerals and Geology Abandoned Mine Lands Program to address the physical safety hazards presented by mine openings on Forest System Lands.

Project would continue the mining related activities at the Bigler Mine site and would begin excavation of a prospect trench to expose an inferred gold-bearing mineralized vein at the Snowbank Mine site for a term of 10 years.

Minerals exploration and reopening of an adit at a previously producing copper mine. Proposal would include construction of 130 access road off an existing route, no tree removal or water use is required.

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

The City of Helena proposed an increase right of way width from 7.5 feet to 100 feet on either side of the flume structure to reduce risk to wildfire and tree strikes. All other permit authorizations remain the same

The Helena Ranger District continues to implement the Divide Travel Plan by proposing to re-configure and improve the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) in 3 locations, existing roads 136-D1 and 1802-B2, and CDNST haul route re-route.

Continue to authorize livestock grazing on the Deep Creek, Grassy Mountain, Dry Creek, and Timber cattle and horse (C&H) grazing allotments.

Open ridge tops in the Highwood Mountains provide valuable habitat and travel corridors for mountain goat, mule deer, and elk. This projects seeks to enhance and preserve these habitats and travel corridors through the removal of encroaching conifer.

The Helena Ranger District is proposing a non-motorized trail system in the North Elkhorn Mountain Range.

Operator is looking at mineral excavation from a dry bench in the Thomas Creek drainage for an inferred placer gold deposit.

The Lincoln Ranger District is proposing to treat 63 acres through commercial thinning of overstocked stands in order to increase improve forest health. Thinning would be implemented through mechanical harvest and ground based skidding.

Cowels Media submitted an application to authorize an existing tower located at an existing communication site. No ground disturbing work will be required and no changes to the existing site are proposed.

This project is proposing to treat aspen and whitebark pine in the Snow/Talon fire burn scar.

Spring Creek Road Obliteration

Installation of a pipeline (300-500 feet)and 800 gallon stock tank in the Big Buffalo Allotment in the Spruce Hills area.

Special use authorization to Macfarland White to construct and use approx. 0.6 miles of road for access to his isolated inholdings. Ground disturbance for road construction is expected to be approx. 1 acre within a 14'prism built to Forest Standards.

This restoration project has various silvicultural and prescribed burning treatments on approximately 22,00 acres, requiring road reconstruction and temporary road construction. There are no new permanent system roads proposed with this project.

The purpose of the Elk Smith Project is to address fuel accumulation and continuity in the project area.

Kirk and Cathy Eakin have a portion of their Garage and driveway on NFS lands. The area of the permit is directly off of Rimini Road. No authority exists to perform suitable land adjustment and no known survey error exists.

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.

The Lincoln Ranger proposes to restore a section of Poorman Creek which lacks floodplain connectivity and a properly functioning riparian area, due to channelization caused by historic placer mining activity.

As part of the ongoing effort to address physical safety hazards associated with abandoned hazardous mine claims the Helena - Lewis and Clark National Forest is proposing an additional 8 features to be addressed.

The Helena Ranger District in partnership with NorthWest Energy and MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks proposes to restore a section of lower Beaver Creek, which lacks floodplain connectivity, habitat complexity and a functioning riparian area.

Placer exploration proposal which would utilize tracked equipment to complete a series of excavations with the intent of identifying "pay zones" and/or exposing shallow bedrock surfaces for subsequent screening for potential locatable mineral deposit

The project is for the exploration of minerals in the Wood Chute area on the Helena National Forest and would include the reopening/reconstruction of two existing adits. Access would be from existing routes but requires the cutting of isolated trees

A project developed through a diverse collaborative process for forest restoration within a designated landscape to reduce the risk and extent of insect or disease infestations and to promote increased resilience of forest stands.

FS #825 is in need of relocation of several sections in order to reduce erosion, maintenance costs and safety concerns. Approximately 500 feet of road beginning at the trailhead and 2100 feet of road down to Yogo crossing will be addressed.

Proposal is to issue a special use road permit for an existing road. The road has been in use for a number of years to access private land.

Travel management analysis for summer and winter motorized use; to provide a manageable system of designated public motorized routes and areas.

Proposal is to conduct fuel treatments for the purposes of maintaining consistent water quantity-quality within Helena's municipal watershed and improving conditions for public and firefighters safety across the landscape in the event of a wildfire

Proposal is to install a short pipeline an a 350 gallon stocktank in the Poorman/Willow Allotment in order to better distribute livestock throughout the allotment and reduce grazing pressure along the bottom-lands.

The purpose of this project is to reduce impacts to natural resources by partnering with the Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited to relocate 1.09 miles of the Copper Creek Road to an upslope location beginning at mile post 8.

The District has received a plan of operation for mining related activities to remove potential ore-bearing material from existing surface piles for reprocessing at an offsite private land location.

This project would implement a portion of the Divide Travel Plan by closing and/or decommissioning up to 100 miles of non-system routes and dispersed recreation sites. This project would not include any new travel decisions.

Issue a permit for the construction of a fire station near the York subdivision. Permit allows a special use authorization on 5 acres or less of National Forest land.

This project is designed to be responsive MPB outbreak by ensuring diverse & sustainable forest stands & wildlife habitat, improving conditions for fire suppression, recovering economic value of dead & dying trees, maintaining & improving watershed

A Plan of Operations was received for common placer sampling, excavation and processing methods to explore for potential placer deposits. Operator would use a mechanized hoe, all excavations would occur in a 20 foot by 30 foot area.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is requesting a permit to allow reach-scale bioassays to assess how the piscicide rotenone (liquid) would perform in different habitat and water chemistry types and to assess the deactivating agent.

Forest Service is proposing to issue two special use road permits to two landowners in the Grasshopper area of the Castle Mountains. The purpose for this proposal is to allow access to private inholdings.

To extend an existing water pipeline system to improve livestock grazing distribution on Forest Service lands. The pipeline included 0.7 miles of high density polyethylene pipe and one fiberglass stock tank. The pipe will be installed above ground.

Installation of a new radio repeater site in the Big Snowy Mountains.

This project would continue the implementation of the ongoing Region 1 effort to address the physical safety hazards presented by hazardous mine openings on the NFS lands by removing old structure and mitigating openings by backfilling or grating.

To close or render "safe", features inventoried and identified as hazardous located on the Lewis and Clark National Forest (LCNF) include: open adits, shafts, stopes, subsidence features, trenches, and dilapidated structures.

The proposal is to build 1.5 miles of barbed wire fence on the hillside of the Elliston Creek Road. The purpose and need for the fence is to better manage the riparian conditions in Elliston Creek for bull trout.

The proposal is to test the resistance of 3-year old whitebark pine seedlings from multiple seed zones for seed transfer, cold hardiness and drought tolerance.

A project to restore and enhance winter range for elk and mule deer.

Revision of the Travel Management Plan for all of the Little Belt Mountains, and the portions of the Castle and Crazy Mountains within the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Alternative maps are available on the web at www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark

The goals of this project are: restore/enhance aspen stand health along the south side of the Big Snowy Mountains, restore aspen stands to their previous larger size, maintain meadows, and improve the diversity of wildlife habitat.

The Lincoln Ranger District has a need to reissue an existing Outfitter and Guide Permit. Mike McCormick of the Sunset Guest Ranch currently has a valid permit that expire on 06/03/2015.

This is a duplicate entry for a project that is called Middle Fork Woodchopper Ridge Wildlife Habitat Improvement Project. Therefore, this entry will be cancelled.

Permittees will move cabin off the Forest to private land. Road use permit issued afterward for private property access.

Rehabilitation of a low-head dam to maintain a consistent water level and ensure the structural integrity of the dam.

The Helena National Forest would like to host the whitebark pine cycle 5 performance test plantation on the Lincoln Ranger District (15 to 20 acres). The intent of the tests is to evaluate white pine blister rust resistance, seed zones, and cold.

This trail was identified as part of the 2007 Little Belt Mountains Travel Plan as a loop opportunity. In order to implement the Travel Plan the last 1 mile of trail will need to be converted from motorcycle to ATV accessible.

This will reroute the trail to cross the creek and follow along the nearby hillside and connect back into the original trail. The total distance of this reroute is about 600 feet,add two 30 foot bridges, and elevate the trail over a wet area.

Project would address the physical safety hazards presented by hazardous mine openings on National Forest System Lands, by backfilling, polyurethane foam and or grate installation.

Arrastra Trail #482 is a popular trail for accessing the Scapegoat Wilderness for both hikers and stock parties. The proposed reroute would move the trail from the valley bottom to the sidehill for a approx. 0.25 miles.

The proposal is to conduct survey and design in 2017 and contract reconstruction/rerouting in 2017-2018. It is anticipated that approx. 2.5 miles of the existing 4 mile trail will require rerouting and approx. 1.5 miles will require reconditioning.

Construction of a permanent barb wire fence for holding purposes. Fence will be 400' x 400' total of 3.67 acres. Fence will be comprised of steel t-posts and barb wire. Fence will be located at 110.451085W, 46.730937N, in SWNE Sec 10 T11N R10E

Project seeks to enhance and preserve ridgetop habitats and travel corridors through the removal of encroaching conifers. Douglas fir, subalpine fir and lodgepole pine trees <8" dbh will be hand slashed and lopped. 5-needle pines will not be remove

Project would include SST installation, define and repave parking area, install traffic signs, fencing, addition of picnic tables, trash recepticles and treatment of weeds.

Legal transfer of the old Helena Ranger District Building and numerous out-buildings with some retention of rights of way and land.

Salvage and sanitation harvest on 150 acres to removed trees effected by a wind event. Project requires 0.5 miles of temporary road. Temporary road is obliterated after project activities are completed.

This project is to decommission and restore Indian Hill campground and will include removing all campground features as well as scarifying the road and removing the bridge. The current bridge dispersed site will be left for camping.

The proposed project would restore approx. 100 feet of streambank along Jumping Creek; a TMDL listed stream. The project proposes to reestablish the stream to a proper stream width by building banks and stabilizing with native vegetation.

This is a small vegetation project that seeks to improve the forest condition in a small area around the City of White Sulphur Springs water diversion infrastructure, mitigate the effects of changing PH levels in the water, and improve access.

This proposal will improve the water access and fencing on the Ray Creek, North fork, and Deep Creek/Grassy Mountain Allotments while protecting riparian areas until a new allotment plan is approved.

To re-issue existing special use permits for Halfmoon Ranch, K Bar L Ranch, Johannesburg Gulch Rd Association, Neimark Property Owners Association, and McDonald Rd.