Environmental Impact Statement Completed

Gold Butterfly

Bitterroot National Forest Ravalli, Montana Stevensville Ranger District

Project to harvest, thin, and prescribe burn forest stands to improve resilience to insects, disease, and wildfire and restore the fire return intervals. Move trailheads and manage roads to improve stream conditions.

Location

On the east side of the Bitterroot Valley, from Little Three Mile Creek south to Saint Clair Creek and from the Bitterroot Forest boundary east to the boundary with the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF.

Project timeline

1
NOI in Federal Register
06/09/2017
2
DEIS NOA in Federal Register
06/16/2018
3
FEIS NOA in Federal Register
02/03/2023
4
Objection Period Start
12/17/2021
5
Decision
08/2023 (Estimated)
6
Implementation
08/2023 (Estimated)

NEPA / regulatory detail

Special AuthorityHfra Title I: Wildland-Urban Interface; Hfra Title I: Municipal Watersheds; Hfra Title I: Threats To Ecosystem Components (Such As Insect Or Disease Epidemics)
Notice and Comment Regulation218 (2013) HFRA
Project ActivityRoad Decommissioning; Developed Site Management; Fuel Treatments (Non-Activity Fuels); Forest Vegetation Improvements; Trail Management; Road Maintenance; Road Improvements/Construction; Timber Sales (Salvage); Timber Sales (Green)
Gold Butterfly RODDecision Signed Date: 11/15/2019 (FS Withdrawn, Constrained Due to Litigation)
Gold Butterfly Project - Record of DecisionDecision Signed Date: 08/08/2023
Gold ButterflyDecision Signed Date: 08/08/2023
ForestsBitterroot National Forest
DistrictsStevensville Ranger District
Legal Land DescriptionT.6N.R.18W. sec.1-12, 16-20, 29,30, T.6N.R.19W. sec. 1,2,10-15,22-27, T.7N.R18W.sec. 2-36,T.7N.R.19W. sec. 1,2,11-14,22-27,34-36, T.8N.R.18W.sec. 20,21,28-34
Fuels managementWildlife, fish, rare plantsRoad managementVegetation management (other than forest products)Forest productsRecreation management