Forest management project draft available

The Fortine Ranger District on the Kootenai National Forest has developed a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Ten Lakes Travel Management Project. The project area is located north and east of Eureka, Montana and includes 64,177 acres. The project boundary contains the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area (WSA).

The purpose of this project is to develop a travel management plan (over-snow and mechanized) for the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area to comply with the terms of the 2007 Settlement Agreement with the Montana Wilderness Association and to maintain wilderness character and the potential for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation system that existed in 1977 (MA1c-DC-AR-01). This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the 2015 Forest Plan, and helps move the project area towards desired conditions described in that plan.

Proposed activities include designation of over-snow motorized use areas and mechanized trail management. Four different alternatives for varying route and area travel options are analyzed in the DEIS.

The DEIS is available for review online at fs.usda.gov/detail/kootenai/landmanagement/projects. A hard copy or CD is available upon request by contacting project leader Moira McKelvey at 296-2536, or by stopping by the Eureka Ranger Station. Instructions for how to comment on this project are contained in the Cover Letter, also located at the above website, and available upon request. Comments must be received 45 days from the publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, anticipated Dec. 16, 2016.

“Comments from those individuals and groups who have an interest in the over-snow vehicle and trail use of the Ten Lakes area are very valuable to us,” Fortine District Ranger Bryan Donner said in a press release. “Input from those affected will give the Forest Service the on-the-ground knowledge that helps us make the best plan possible.”