Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
01/01/2022 to 03/31/2022
Bitterroot 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, Bitterroot National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest,  Darby Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest,  Stevensville Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest,  Sula Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest,  West Fork Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Locatable Mining Rule - 36 CFR 228, subpart A.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  On Hold  N/A  N/A Sarah Shoemaker
907-586-7886
sarahshoemaker@fs.fed.us 
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes revisions to its regulations at 36 CFR 228, Subpart A governing locatable minerals operations on National Forest System lands.A draft EIS & proposed rule should be available for review/comment in late 2020
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57214
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. These regulations apply to all NFS lands open to mineral entry under the US mining laws. More Information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/minerals/locatable-minerals/current-revisions.
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Bitterroot 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
Forest Plan Amendment - Elk, Old Growth, Coarse Woody Debris and Snag Forest Plan Components
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Land management planning  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/18/2019
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 12/2021  		Expected:02/2022
  		02/2022 Cole Mayn
406-363-7155
cole.mayn@usda.gov 
Description: The Bitterroot National Forest is evaluating the need to conduct programmatic amendments for elk, old growth, coarse woody debris and snag components under the 1987 Forest Plan.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57302
Location: UNIT - Bitterroot National Forest All Units. STATE - Idaho, Montana. COUNTY - Idaho, Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The programmatic forest plan amendments would cover the entire Bitterroot National Forest.
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Bitterroot National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)  

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Eastside Forest & Habitat Improvement Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 05/11/2021  		Expected:06/2021
  		08/2021 Stephen Brown
406-777-7410
steve.brown2@usda.gov 
Description: Project proposes to use a mix of prescribed fire and pre-commercial thinning to address forest health and wildlife habitat improvement needs.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59985
Location: UNIT - Darby Ranger District, Sula Ranger District, Stevensville Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Project covers most of the "eastside" of the Bitterroot National Forest located east of Highway 93, as well as the entire Sula Ranger District.
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Bitterroot National Forest,   Darby Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Bitterroot Front
EA
 - Recreation management
- Heritage resource management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Grazing management
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management
- Road management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 04/2021  		Expected:12/2021  01/2022 Eric Winthers
406-821-4244
ewinthers@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project aims to increase forest resiliency by addressing insect and disease risks, reducing risk of high severity wildfire, maintaining/improving wildlife habitat and watershed conditions, as well as maintaining/improving recreation and roads.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57341
Location: UNIT - Darby Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Missoula, Ravalli. LEGAL - Multiple sections in: T10N/R20W-R21W, T11N/R20W-R21W, T2N/R21W-R22W, T3N/R21W-R22W, T4N/R21W-R23W, T5N/R21W-R23W, T6N/R21W-R22W, T7N/R21W-R22W, T8N/R21W-R22W, T9N/R20W-R21W. Project area includes Forest Service lands on the eastern front of the Bitterroot Range from Darby, MT (Trapper Creek area) to Florence, MT (McClain Creek area) on the Darby and Stevensville RDs.
Cold Spring Hill ATV Trail
CE
 - Recreation management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/20/2021  		Expected:06/2021
  		07/2021 Mark Smith
406-821-1218
markrsmith@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project would construct 5 new connector trails (approximately 0.70 miles total)while also converting existing closed FS Roads to trail status. The trail would be constructed to Trail Class 3 with 60" tread width.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59360
Location: UNIT - Darby Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. R20W, T4n, Section 35W.
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Bitterroot National Forest,   Stevensville Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Gold Butterfly
EIS

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Objection Period Legal Notice 12/17/2021
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 03/2022  		Expected:03/2022
Actual: 11/15/2019  		05/2022 Stephen Brown
406-777-7410
steve.brown2@usda.gov 
Description: 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.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51486
Location: UNIT - Stevensville Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - T.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. 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.
Gold Butterfly Project - Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
EIS

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 06/25/2021
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 12/2021  		Expected:02/2022
  		02/2022 Matthew Anderson
406-363-7121
matthew.anderson3@usda.gov 
Description: This SEIS for the Gold Butterfly Project will analyze a project-specific forest plan amendment related to management of old growth within the project area.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59262
Location: UNIT - Stevensville Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. 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.
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Bitterroot National Forest,   Sula 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 Fork Fishing Access Site Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Watershed management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/16/2021  		Expected:08/2022
  		08/2022 Mike Jakober
406-821-3269
mjakober@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project would use boulders to create a parking area and prevent unauthorized, motorized access to a user-created route that is currently causing damage to a wetland along the East Fork Bitterroot River.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59533
Location: UNIT - Sula Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Forest Service land along the East Fork Bitterroot River at milepost 12.9 of the East Fork Highway.
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Bitterroot National Forest,   West Fork Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Mud Creek Vegetation Management Project
EA
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Objection Period Legal Notice 07/07/2021  		Expected:11/2021
  		12/2021 Seth Carbonari
406-821-1212
scarbonari@fs.fed.us 
Description: Project purpose is to design and implement a suitable transportation system and to improve landscape resilience to disturbances, such as insects, diseases, and fire.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55744
Location: UNIT - West Fork Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Project is located in the Mud Creek watershed and portions of the Nelson Lake, Little West Fork, Lloyd Creek, Lower Blue Joint, and Painted Rocks watershed areas of the Bitterroot Mountains.
West Fork Boat Launch Minor Improvement
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management  Completed  Actual: 06/03/2021  08/2021 Erica Strayer
406-821-4298
erica.strayer@usda.gov 
Description: The West Fork Boat Launch is a developed site, equipped with a vault toilet, hardened boat ramp, information board, and parking. The proposed improvements include the installation of a picnic table, a few benches, interpretive signs on river and res
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60138
Location: UNIT - West Fork Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - T1N, R21W, Sec 19. The West Fork Boat Launch is located approximately 18 miles southwest of Darby, MT, off of State Highway 473.
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