Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
04/01/2011 to 06/30/2011
Flathead National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Report Contents (click to jump to a section) :
-  Projects Occurring Nationwide
-  R1 - Northern Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Flathead National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Flathead National Forest,  Hungry Horse Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Flathead National Forest,  Spotted Bear Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Flathead National Forest,  Swan Lake Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Flathead National Forest,  Tally Lake Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Gypsy Moth Management in the United States: A Cooperative Approach
EIS

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Vegetation management (other than forest products)  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 09/19/2008
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 09/2011  		Expected:10/2011
  		10/2011 Noel Schneeberger
610-557-4121
nschneeberger@fs.fed.us 
Description: The USDA Forest Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are analyzing a range of strategies for controlling gypsy moth damage to forests and trees in the United States.
Web Link:  http://www.na.fs.fed.us/wv/eis/
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. Nationwide.
Land Management Planning Rule
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 02/25/2011
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 11/2011  		Expected:12/2011
  		12/2011 Larry Hayden
202-205-1559
lhayden@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Department of Agriculture proposes to promulgate a new planning rule, which will set out the process for development, revision, and amendment of National Forest System land management plans.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. Agency-wide Rule.
Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant on National Forest System Lands.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 08/27/2010
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 05/2011  		Expected:12/2011
  		01/2012 Glen Stein
208-869-5405
gstein@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Forest Service will prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement for the continued nationwide aerial application of fire retardant on National Forest System lands.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/retardant/index.html
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. Nationwide.
Back To Top

R1 - Northern Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Forest Plan Revision, Lolo, Bitterroot and Flathead National Forests
EIS
 - Land management planning  On Hold  N/A  N/A Barbara Beckes
406-329-3809
bbeckes@fs.fed.us 
Description: Forest Plan Revision
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/wmpz/
Location: UNIT - Bitterroot National Forest All Units, Flathead National Forest All Units, Lolo National Forest All Units. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead, Granite, Lake, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders. Western Montana.
Back To Top

Flathead National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Flathead National Forest Pre-commercial Thinning Project
CE
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 01/28/2011  		Expected:04/2011
  		06/2011 Amanda Smiley
406-387-3837
asmiley@fs.fed.us 
Description: The proposal includes no more than 3,652 acres of treatment. Implementation of this project would occur annually during the summers between 2011 and 2016. The proposed treatment acres have been refined based upon comments received on the project.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=33293
Location: UNIT - Flathead National Forest All Units. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. Tally Lake, Hungry Horse, Glacier View, Swan Lake, and Spotted Bear Ranger districts.
Back To Top

Flathead National Forest,   Hungry Horse Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
East Side Hungry Horse Recreation Site Renovation Project
EA
 - Recreation management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 07/19/2010
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 05/2011  		Expected:07/2011
  		06/2012 Marsha Moore
406-758-5325
memoore@fs.fed.us 
Description: Heavy maintenance at campgrounds, boat launches, and group use sites as well as incorporating dispersed areas into developed site operations (Murray Bay Campground, Riverside Boat Launch, Emery Bay Campground, FKL Dispersed Area, & Abott Boat Launch)
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=32092
Location: UNIT - Hungry Horse Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. Eastside of Hungry Horse Reservoir (Murray Bay Campground, Riverside Boat Launch, Emery Bay Campground, FKL Dispersed Area, and Abbot Bay Boat Launch).
Kalispell Line Valve 5 to 6 Loop Natural Gas Pipeline Project
EIS
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Michele Draggoo
406-387-3827
mdraggoo@fs.fed.us 
Description: A proposal by Northwestern Energy to install 12 miles of buried 12" diameter natural gas pipeline near the existing line between the valve stations at Marias Pass and at Nimrod (near the junction of Bear Creek and the Middle Fork Flathead River)
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=25429
Location: UNIT - Hungry Horse Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. Highway 2 Corridor between Marias Pass and the junction of the Middle Fork Flathead R. and Bear Creek.
Sekokini Springs Fish Hatchery Improvement Project
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 02/04/2011  		Expected:04/2011
  		06/2011 Pat VanEimeren
406-387-3863
pvaneimeren@fs.fed.us 
Description: The proposed project would renovate the existing hatchery and outdoor facilities at the Sekokini Springs site for use as a westslope cutthroat trout experimental rearing and isolation facility.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=28374
Location: UNIT - Hungry Horse Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. Middle Fork Flathead River (near Blankenship Bridge).
Back To Top

Flathead National Forest,   Spotted Bear Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Spotted Bear River Project
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 09/17/2010  		Expected:04/2011
  		07/2012 Michele Draggoo
406-387-3827
mdraggoo@fs.fed.us 
Description: Vegetation treatments to address current and expected mortality from insects and diseases and to create or maintain forest conditions that are more resilient in the face of future disturbances (primarily wildfire, disease or insect infestations).
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=30157
Location: UNIT - Spotted Bear Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. Spotted Bear River drainage on the Spotted Bear Ranger District.
Back To Top

Flathead National Forest,   Swan Lake Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Crane Mountain Trail System Expansion
CE
 - Recreation management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Andrew Johnson
1-406-837-7507
andrewjohnson@fs.fed.us 
Description: Improving non-motorized trail opportunities in the urban interface
Location: UNIT - Swan Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Lake. LEGAL - T25N R18W, T26N R19W. Swan Lake Ranger District, Crane Mountain area west of Swan Lake.
Island Unit Trails
EA
 - Recreation management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/18/2007
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 10/2011  		Expected:11/2011
  		11/2011 Andrew Johnson
406-837-7507
andrewjohnson@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposed additions to Swan Lake Ranger District trail systems in the Island Unit portion of the Swan Lake Ranger District.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=22659
Location: UNIT - Swan Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. LEGAL - T26N R22W. Island Unit of the Swan Lake Ranger District, southwest of Kalispell, Montana.
Lion Creek Mountain Pine Beetle Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Vegetation management (other than forest products)  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 01/28/2011  		Expected:05/2011
  		08/2011 Joleen Dunham
406-837-7510
jdunham@fs.fed.us 
Description: Project to conduct mechanical silvicultural treatments in areas of ponderosa pine affected by the mountain pine beetle on the Swan Lake Ranger District
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=34994
Location: UNIT - Swan Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Lake. LEGAL - Section 14 T22N R17W. The Lion Creek MPB Project is located on the east side of the Swan Valley off Forest Development Road #9769.
Mission Upland Burning Project
EA
 - Fuels management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/02/2010
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 05/2011  		Expected:06/2011
  		09/2011 Joleen Dunham
406-837-7510
jdunham@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Mission Upland Burning Project proposed to conduct ecosystem burning on 1,050 acres in the Piper Creek Drainage, Swan Lake Ranger District, Flathead National Forest.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=34304
Location: UNIT - Swan Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Lake. LEGAL - Section 27, 28, 29, 32 and 33 T22N R18W outside of wilderness; Sections 23 & 26 T22N R18W inside the Mission Mountain Wilderness. Swan Lake Ranger District, Flathead National Forest - approximately 11 miles northwest of Condon, MT.
Swan Valley Ponderosa Pine Carbaryl Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/26/2011  		Expected:04/2011
  		07/2011 Bryan Donner
406-758-3508
bdonner@fs.fed.us 
Description: In response to a region-wide outbreak of mountain pine beetles, the Swan Lake Ranger District is proposing to apply the insecticide carbaryl and pheromone verbenone to ponderosa and whitebark pine trees in the Upper Swan River Valley.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=34968
Location: UNIT - Swan Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Lake, Missoula. The Upper Swan River Valley located between Bigfork and Seeley Lake, Montana.
Wild Cramer Forest Health and Fuels Reduction Project
EIS
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 10/26/2010
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 10/2011  		Expected:06/2012
  		06/2013 Michele Draggoo
406-387-3827
mdraggoo@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project is intended to address forest health and hazardous fuel concerns within a portion of the Island Unit (near Lakeside and Kila) on the Swan Lake Ranger District.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=34158
Location: UNIT - Swan Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. Island Unit, which includes Wild Bill, Truman, Emmons, Patrick, Cramer, Bierney, and Stoner drainages.
Back To Top

Flathead National Forest,   Tally Lake Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Big Mountain Chair 4 and Chair 5 Project
CE
 - Special use management  Completed  Actual: 03/23/2011  07/2011 Bryan Donner
406-758-3508
bdonner@fs.fed.us 
Description: Management of the Whitefish Mountain Ski and Summer Resort is proposing to relocate Chair 5 to the East Rim area and extend Chair 4 to approximately 1200 feet to it's origional location.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=34355
Location: UNIT - Tally Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. LEGAL - Sections 25 and 36, T32N, R22W. Project is located on the Whitefish Mountain Resort five miles north of Whitefish, Montana.
Big Mountain Electronic Sites Fuels Reduction Project
CE
 - Fuels management  Completed  Actual: 02/02/2011  07/2011 Tamara MacKenzie
406-758-3528
tlmackenzie@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project proposed to reduce fuels around two electronic sites located near the summit of Big Mountain, lowering the likelihood of damage by wildland fire.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=32674
Location: UNIT - Tally Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. LEGAL - Sections 25 & 26, T32N R22W. located six miles north of Whitefish, MT.
Good Creek Cutthroat Restoration Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/09/2011  		Expected:04/2011
  		08/2011 Bryan Donner
406-758-3508
bdonner@fs.fed.us 
Description: Modify a culvert on Upper Good Creek to restrict aquatic organism passage, thus creating a refuge above the culvert for cutthroat trout.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=34433
Location: UNIT - Tally Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Lincoln. LEGAL - T31N, R26W, Section 13. The Upper Good Creek drainage of the Tally Lake Ranger District.
Griffin Creek Resource Management Project
EA
 - Recreation management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/19/2010
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 05/2011  		Expected:08/2011
  		01/2013 Bryan Donner
406-758-3508
bdonner@fs.fed.us 
Description: A project to improve forest tree structure and species composition, reduce hazardous fuels, maintain and improve wildlife habitat, improve recreation opportunities,improve water quality and aquatic habitat, and provide commercial wood products.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=31840
Location: UNIT - Tally Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. LEGAL - T28N, R26W; T28N, R25W; T28N, R24W; T29N, R26W; T29N, R25W; T29N, R24W; T30N, R26W; T30N, R25W; T30N, R24W. This project is located in the Griffin Creek drainage on the Tally Lake Ranger District approximately 17 miles west of Kalispell, MT.
Round Bug Mountain Pine Beetle Project
CE
 - Recreation management
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 10/26/2010  		Expected:04/2011
  		01/2012 Tamara MacKenzie
406-758-3528
tlmackenzie@fs.fed.us 
Description: Improve forest health by removing lodgepole pine susceptible to Mountain Pine Beetle and improve overall stand vigor in an important winter and summer recreation area.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=34136
Location: UNIT - Tally Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Flathead. LEGAL - Sections 8, 9, 10, 15, and 16; T31N, R23W. Northwest of Whitefish, MT approximately 7 miles.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.