Helena National Forest

Forest-wide Hazardous Tree Removal Project

The continued development of the mountain pine beetle epidemic on the Helena National Forest has resulted in high levels of tree mortality that have created a hazardous condition for public safety due to the potential for dead and dying trees to fall. The purpose of this proposal is to reduce the public safety hazard over the next three years by removing hazard trees and hazardous fuels along 750 miles (Table 1 & maps) of heavily traveled open system roads, in 6 campgrounds (Moose Creek - Lincoln, Pine Grove, Skidway, Gipsy Lake, Moose Creek – Helena, and Kading), and 11 administrative sites (Tenmile Picnic Area, Charter Oak Mine, Kading Cabin, Prickley Pear Sportsman’s Range, Cummings Cabin, Lincoln Cemetery, Old Lincoln Townsite, Thompson Guard Station, Hidden Lakes Trailhead, Edith Lake Trailhead, Stove Camp Trailhead) in a cost efficient, controlled, and orderly manner. The project is needed to: ensure public and firefighter safety by keeping travel corridors open with adequate clearance for traditional firefighting equipment and traffic; reduce the hazard to public safety due to the risk of dead and dying trees falling; reduce the risk of high intensity/high severity wildfires within treatment areas by reducing hazardous fuel loadings associated with treatments and beetle killed trees; minimize the effects of tree mortality on the overall health, scenic quality, and condition of forested areas along roads, developed recreation sites, and administrative sites; and partially offset the cost of treatments by recovering value of forest products.

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