Knotty Pine project moving ahead
Cory Farmer, of the U.S. Forest Service, informs residents on the Knotty Pine project at the Three Rivers Ranger District on May 6. Forest Service officials had to call off a previous public meeting on the project after a small group of residents repeatedly interrupted presenters. The gathering held last week, set up in an "open house" format, was more cordial. (Will Langhorne/The Western News)
U.S. Forest Service officials are moving ahead with a local project that came under fire earlier this year after becoming the subject of rampant misinformation on social media.
Leadership at Three Rivers Ranger District in Troy issued a draft decision notice and a finding of no significant impact on the environment for the Knotty Pine Project earlier this month. The action opened a 45-day objection period beginning Oct. 6 for the proposed forestry work northwest of Troy. Only those who have previously submitted remarks on the project are allowed to submit objections, according to a release from the Forest Service.
A previous attempt to gather public comment in April turned sour after unfounded rumors spread online. The misinformation included claims that the project would allow thousands of acres of clear-cutting, aerial spraying of chemicals, management on private land and an RV park near Yaak Falls. When project leaders held a meeting to dispel some of the confusion, the gathering rapidly broke down after a small group kept interrupting presenters.
Forest Service officials were perplexed by the outrage and at loss to explain where the misinformation originated.
“We don’t know where some of this stuff comes from,” Chad Benson, Kootenai National Forest supervisor, told Lincoln County Commissioners. “It’s almost to the point of insanity for us.”
Project managers invited residents to a second gathering at the Three Rivers Ranger District station in May. Rather than hold a presentation, officials displayed information at booths hoping a dispersed setup would prevent misguided participants from dominating conversations.
Some residents who had previously raised eyebrows at the project said the open-air gathering helped assuage their concerns. Forest Service officials staffing the booths said that by holding one-on-one conversations with anxious residents they were able to dispel much of the misinformation.
After the initial public meeting, Lisa Osborn, project manager for the Knotty Pine Project, said the residents who raised objections to the construction of an RV park seemed to have misunderstood plans to construct a recreational area near Yaak Falls.
An early environmental assessment of the project included a plan to build a campsite that could accommodate up to 150 people and few recreational vehicle hookups. Osborn said it seemed that some residents incorrectly concluded the site would host up to 150 RVs. After considering comments from the public, Forest Service officials nevertheless dropped the overnight group site proposal in an updated environmental assessment published in October.
Residents have also voiced opposition to the construction of a trail near Yaak Falls, fearing it would draw more tourists to the area. Forest Service officials have kept the proposed roughly two mile hiking trail in the draft decision notice, saying it would provide “low elevation snow free hiking access for a family friendly opportunity.”
Forest Service officials received both support and opposition for noxious weed treatment efforts. Some commentors worried about the effects of treatment on native plants, animals and water sources. Others urged the use of herbicide to prevent weeds from overtaking wildlife habitats and forage.
The project also drew comments regarding climate change, regeneration harvest, road construction, old growth management, grizzly bear habitats, elk security and winter range, migratory birds and whitebark pine, according to the draft decision notice.
The Knotty Pine Project will include 2,971 acres of commercial harvest, 75 acres of harvest treatment in old growth, 4,757 acres of non-harvest fuels treatment and precommercial thinning on 2,099 acres, according to the draft decision. The proposal recommends building 4.17 miles of undetermined road, 1.2 miles of temporary road construction, 35 miles of road maintenance and 4.04 miles of road storage. Officials suggest including 41 acres of burning in old growth and 24 harvest units that would create 14 openings more than 40 acres.