Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — Project Detail

14 projects with crawled detail · milestones · contacts · documents

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

R01 Northern · 14 projects · crawled 2026-08-13
In Progress 6 Developing Proposal 2 Completed 6
Environmental Assessment 6 Decision Memo 6 Categorical Exclusion 2
12 with documents 8 with comments page
Categorical Exclusion · Lincoln Ranger District · updated 7/30/2026 · decision 10/2025 (Estimated)
The project area is located approximately 5.25 miles south-southeast of Lincoln, Montana. The area of operations generally parallels the north side of the Poorman Creek stream corridor and involves NFS lands located within Sections 16 and 17, Township 13 North, Range 8 West, M.P.M., in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. · Lewis and Clark, Montana

The Fulgham 1 Placer Project will collect and process bulk samples from an inferred placer deposit to confirm occurrence and better characterize deposit qualities and extent.

Minerals and geology
NEPA Start Date
5/1/2025
Finding/Decision Date
Project documents
Hans Oaks · hans.oaks@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Categorical ExclusionUSDA-32d-USFS
Environmental Assessment · Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest · updated 6/2/2026
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest · Broadwater; Cascade; Chouteau; Fergus; Flathead; Gallatin; Glacier; Golden Valley; Jefferson; Judith Basin; Lewis and Clark; Meagher; Park; Pondera; Powell; Sweet Grass; Teton; Wheatland, Montana

This project would reduce the risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire, improve forest resistance to disease and drought, increase tree growth and vigor as well as improve wildlife habitat and watershed function across the Forest.

Fuels managementVegetation management (other than forest products)
NEPA Start Date
2/1/2024
Finding/Decision Date
4/9/2026
Project documents
Chiara Cipriano · chiara.cipriano@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Decision Signed Date4/9/2026
Categorical Exclusion · Helena Ranger District · updated 6/2/2026
Park Lake Dam is located in the Helena Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, roughly 20 miles southwest of Helena, Montana, at latitude 46.444 and longitude -112.172 in Jefferson County, Montana. · Jefferson, Montana

Park Lake Dam Reconstruction will include removing all unacceptable material, stabilizing the foundation, and reconstructing the dam in-kind using a homogeneous embankment. Signed FANEC available at: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/trj8raeqy2vljp7vacggql

Facility management
NEPA Start Date
8/31/2025
Finding/Decision Date
3/13/2026
Kathy Bushnell · katherine.bushnell@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Categorical ExclusionUSDA-44d-USFS
Decision Signed Date3/13/2026
Blue Copper Project Developing Proposal
Environmental Assessment · Helena Ranger District · updated 5/28/2026 · decision 2/2027 (Estimated)
The project area is located approximately 20 miles west of Helena, in Powell and Lewis and Clark Counties, Montana.

This locatable mineral exploration project involves lands managed by the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Exploration would involve drilling on up to 127 drill pads, limited trenching, sample collection for geotechnical and geochemical analyses, and geophysical surveys.

Minerals and geology
NEPA Start Date
2/13/2026
Finding/Decision Date
Project documents
Hans Oaks · hans.oaks@usda.gov
Judith Springs Vegetation Project Developing Proposal
Environmental Assessment · Judith-Musselshell Ranger District · updated 5/14/2026 · decision 11/2026 (Estimated)
The Judith-Springs project lies in the eastern portion of the Little Belts Mountains in Judith Basin and Meagher Counties, north of Highway 12 in the Spring Creek, Musselshell and South Fork Judith River watersheds. The area is identified in the 2021 Helena-Lewis and Clark Land Management Plan as being with the Little Belts Geographic Area. See Appendix A in the Environmental Assessment for a map of the project area in addition to maps of the treatments. · Judith Basin; Meagher, Montana

A vegetation and forest fuels management project within the Little Belts Geographic Area to reduce hazardous fuels and maintain regional timber harvesting and milling infrastructure that supports local business.

Forest productsFuels managementVegetation management (other than forest products)
NEPA Start Date
11/12/2025
Finding/Decision Date
Project documents
Jason Oltrogge · jason.oltrogge@usda.gov
Decision Memo · Lewis And Clark National Forest All Units · updated 9/29/2025
T14N, R8W, Sec 12 on the Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest · Lewis and Clark, Montana

2.8 miles of new aggregate and an additional 1.95 miles of existing aggregate surface to be treated with dust abatement to reduce dust and sediment delivery. Both bridge approaches and an additional section of road before the bridge to be repaved.

Road management
Scoping Start
09/29/2025
Decision
10/2025 (Estimated)
Implementation
10/2025 (Estimated)
Project documents
James Yarbrough · james.yarbrough@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Categorical Exclusion32.12 (4), 36 Cfr 220.6(D)(4)
Special AuthorityNot Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment RegulationNot Subject to Regulations
Project ActivityRoad Maintenance
ForestsLewis And Clark National Forest
DistrictsLincoln Ranger District
Legal Land Description46.97917500, -112.55154600
Decision Memo · Lewis And Clark National Forest All Units · updated 9/29/2025
T13N, R9W, Section 34. · Lewis and Clark, Montana

Reroute of the Finn K1 road (#329-K1) to move the beginning mile post from private to Forest Service land. The project is located at T13N, R9W, Section 34. Approximately 200 ft of road would be rerouted and the old road would be obliterated.

Road management
Scoping Start
09/29/2025
Decision
10/2025 (Estimated)
Implementation
10/2025 (Estimated)
Project documents
James Yarbrough · james.yarbrough@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Categorical Exclusion32.2 (24), 36 Cfr 220.6(E)(24)
Special AuthorityNot Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment RegulationNot Subject to Regulations
Project ActivityRoad Improvements/Construction
ForestsLewis And Clark National Forest
DistrictsLincoln Ranger District
Legal Land DescriptionNot Applicable
Decision Memo · Helena Ranger District · updated 8/8/2025
The fiber line would follow along or within these roads: Wakina Sky Gulch Road, Arrastra Gulch Drive, Black Alder Gulch Road, FSR 647 (Prospector Gulch Road), and FSR 647-A1. · Lewis and Clark, Montana

Charter Communications to install buried fiber optic cable along & within Wakina Sky Gulch Road, Arrastra Gulch Drive, Black Alder Gulch Road, FSR 647 (Prospector Gulch Road), FSR 647-A1, and the private road under special use permit HEL201.

Special use management
Scoping Start
05/20/2025
Decision
08/2025 (Estimated)
Implementation
08/2025 (Estimated)
Project documents
John Fennell · John.Fennell@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Categorical Exclusion32.2 (3), 36 Cfr 220.6(E)(3)
Special AuthorityNot Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment RegulationNot Subject to Regulations
Project ActivitySpecial Use Authorizations
ForestsLewis And Clark National Forest
DistrictsHelena Ranger District
Legal Land DescriptionNot Applicable
Environmental Assessment · Lewis And Clark National Forest All Units · updated 7/30/2025
Powell County - The project area is located between the western boundary of the Helena Ranger District and the Little Blackfoot River, south of Highway 12. · Powell, Montana

A vegetation management project to improve forest and watershed conditions and address hazardous wildfire fuel loads in and around the wildland urban interface.

Forest productsVegetation management (other than forest products)Fuels managementWatershed management
Scoping Start
02/26/2024
Comment Period
07/03/2024
Objection Period Start
04/17/2025
Decision
07/2025 (Estimated)
Implementation
07/2025 (Estimated)
Project documents
Kelsey Fallis · Kelsey.Fallis@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Special AuthorityNot Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment Regulation218 (2013) Non-HFRA
Project ActivityBiomass; Fuel Treatments (Non-Activity Fuels); Forest Vegetation Improvements; Special Products Sales; Noxious Weed Treatments; Road Maintenance; Road Improvements/Construction; Rangeland Vegetation Improvements; Timber Sales (Salvage); Timber Sales (Green); Watershed Improvements
ForestsLewis And Clark National Forest
DistrictsHelena Ranger District
Legal Land DescriptionNot Applicable
Decision Memo · Lewis And Clark National Forest All Units · updated 7/14/2025
Stemple Pass Road on the Lincoln Ranger District · Lewis and Clark, Montana

Northwestern Energy proposal to replace their aerial powerline along Stemple Pass Road with approximately 1.5 miles (11 acres) of buried powerline on National Forest System (NFS) lands. Equipment will not need to be staged on NFS lands.

Special use management
Scoping Start
07/07/2025
Decision
07/2025 (Estimated)
Implementation
07/2025 (Estimated)
John Fennell · John.Fennell@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Categorical Exclusion32.2 (2), 36 Cfr 220.6(E)(2)
Special AuthorityNot Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment RegulationNot Subject to Regulations
Project ActivitySpecial Use Authorizations
ForestsLewis And Clark National Forest
DistrictsLincoln Ranger District
Legal Land DescriptionSecs. 14, 16, 21, 22, 23, T. 13 N, R. 8 W
Bonanza Completed
Environmental Assessment · White Sulphur Springs Ranger District · updated 6/24/2025
Castle Mountains · Meagher, Montana

Approximately 1,980 acres are proposed for treatment that would include commercial harvest of trees. Mechanical treatment methods would be used to accomplish the treatment objective of Improve Stand Health and Vigor.

Forest products
Scoping Start
08/06/2024
Comment Period
08/06/2024
Objection Period Start
03/04/2025
Decision
06/2025 (Estimated)
Implementation
07/2025 (Estimated)
Project documents
Sharon Scott · sharon.a.scott@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Special AuthorityNot Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment Regulation218 (2013) Non-HFRA
Project ActivityTimber Sales (Green)
ForestsLewis And Clark National Forest
DistrictsWhite Sulphur Springs Ranger District
Legal Land DescriptionNot Applicable
Environmental Assessment · Lewis And Clark National Forest All Units · updated 2/12/2025
Project area is in the central portion of the Little Belt Mountains, West of U.S. Hwy 89 Between the communities of Monarch and Neihart, MT. · Cascade; Meagher, Montana

A Vegetation management project to reduce hazardous fuels and fire threat within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and to enhance associated forest and rangeland ecosystems across the project area.

Vegetation management (other than forest products)Fuels management
Scoping Start
09/28/2022
Comment Period
07/27/2023
Objection Period Start
05/18/2024
Decision
02/2025 (Estimated)
Implementation
03/2025 (Estimated)
Project documents
John Casselli · john.casselli@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Special AuthorityNot Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment Regulation218 (2013) Non-HFRA
Project ActivityFuel Treatments (Non-Activity Fuels); Forest Vegetation Improvements; Road Maintenance; Road Improvements/Construction; Rangeland Vegetation Improvements; Timber Sales (Green); Watershed Improvements
ForestsLewis And Clark National Forest
DistrictsWhite Sulphur Springs Ranger District
Legal Land DescriptionNot Applicable
Decision Memo · Lewis And Clark National Forest All Units · updated 10/8/2024
Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Dry Fork of Belt Creek drainage, Evans property. · Cascade, Montana

This project grants special use authorization to the United States Air Force for the operation and maintenance of a missile cable line on a strip of land newly acquired by the Forest Service on the Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District.

Special use management
Scoping Start
10/08/2024
Decision
10/2024 (Estimated)
Implementation
10/2024 (Estimated)
Project documents
Helen Smith · hcsmith@fs.fed.us
NEPA / regulatory detail
Categorical Exclusion32.2 (3), 36 Cfr 220.6(E)(3)
Special AuthorityNot Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment RegulationNot Subject to Regulations
Project ActivitySpecial Use Authorizations
ForestsLewis And Clark National Forest
DistrictsWhite Sulphur Springs Ranger District
Legal Land DescriptionSection 14, 15, and 22, T.13 N., R. 8 E., P.M.M.
Decision Memo · Helena Ranger District · updated 2/26/2018
North of Highway 12 near the Dog and Sweeney Creek drainages. · Powell, Montana

The Divide Travel Plan closed numerous travel routes within the project area. In order to fully implement the travel plan decision closed routes will be obliterated and rehabilitated in addition hazardous mines within the area will be closed

Recreation managementMinerals and geology
Scoping Start
12/06/2016
Decision
12/2018 (Estimated)
Implementation
02/2019 (Estimated)
Project documents
Erin Fryer · erin.fryer@usda.gov
NEPA / regulatory detail
Categorical Exclusion32.2 (8), 36 Cfr 220.6(E)(8)
Special AuthorityNot Applicable / Other
Notice and Comment RegulationNot Subject to Regulations
Project ActivityRoad Decommissioning; Dispersed Recreation Mgmt.; Watershed Improvements
ForestsLewis And Clark National Forest
DistrictsHelena Ranger District
Legal Land DescriptionNot Applicable