More money for Kootenai Complex Priority Landscape
The Kootenai National Forest has received a second year of funding for the Kootenai Complex Priority Landscape.
The one million acre landscape in Lincoln County includes 150,000 acres of hazardous fuels treatments surrounding the communities of Libby, Troy, Eureka, Stryker, Fortine and Trego.
The landscape also includes portions of Boundary County, Idaho near the communities of Bonners Ferry and Moyie Springs. Designated as one of 10 priority landscapes for addressing the wildfire crisis by the Secretary of Agriculture in 2022. Work is expected to be implemented through 2032.
Investing in priority landscapes to accelerate hazardous fuels treatment is a critical part of the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy for addressing wildfire risk around communities within critical firesheds.
The Wildfire Crisis Strategy and information about the priority landscapes can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/WCS-Initial-Landscape-Investments.pdf.
Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was received in 2022 for the Kootenai Complex. With this initial investment, 990 acres of fuels reduction was completed through contracts, agreements and by Forest personnel – exceeding the first-year target of 911 acres.
An agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers will fund plans for fuels reduction projects around Operable Unit 3 of the Libby Superfund site. A Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) agreement was developed with the Montana DNRC for fuels reduction on National Forest lands around communities in Lincoln County.
In addition, the Coeur d’Alene Tree Nursery received funds for a seed bank and source of native plants for future restoration work. A landscape coordinator and silviculturist were hired in 2022 specifically to direct and coordinate critical work within the Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscape.
The second year of funding received early in 2023 will continue critical hazardous fuels reduction treatments on 4,000 acres, reducing wildfire risk to communities and infrastructure. These treatments are in addition to the normal hazardous fuels work planned for 2023.
The initial investment in the Kootenai Complex included a 3-year target of 7,200 acres of treatment. Based on current progress the Forest Service expects to accomplish over 6,000 acres of treatments in 2023 which will exceed the initial goals ahead of schedule, a testament of the commitment by the agency and partners to address the wildfire crisis.
In 2023, the Forest will invest in contracts to continue providing work to local contractors, expand on our partnership with Montana DNRC through GNA and utilize local Forest Service crews to implement fuels reduction projects including prescribed fire activities.
As part of the longer-term strategy the Forest is investing in environmental planning on priority projects areas for out-year implementation.
The Forest is also working toward a GNA agreement with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes which will help build capacity for implementing a variety of work in the landscape.