Pinkham Meadow Proposed Actiona123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic... · 2017. 7. 19. · Pinkham Meadow Page 2 Introduction The Rexford and Fortine Ranger Districts

Pinkham Meadow Proposed Action

USDA FOREST SERVICE

KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST

REXFORD AND FORTINE

RANGER DISTRICTS

*Photo Credit: Laura Jungst

Pinkham Falls

Pinkham Meadow

Introduction The Rexford and Fortine Ranger Districts of the

Kootenai National Forest have developed a

Proposed Action for the Pinkham Meadow

Project. The project area is located South and

West of Eureka, Montana along Pinkham Ridge.

The legal description of the project area includes

all or portions of Townships 33, 34, 35, and 36

North, Ranges 26, 27, and 28 West, Lincoln

County, Montana. A map displaying the proposed

activity area is enclosed.

The project boundary encompasses 108,182

acres, of which 70,170 are National Forest

System Lands (NFSL). To accommodate several

isolated parcels of

NFSL and for ease of

analysis, the boundary

of the project area

includes Non-NFSL.

Proposed activities are

on NFSL only. The

project area ranges in

elevation from

approximately 6700

feet at the top of Lydia

Mountain to 2300 feet

at the mouth of the

Tobacco River. There

are no Inventoried

Roadless Areas within

the project boundary. The project area includes

48,141 acres of NFSL in the Wildland Urban

Interface (WUI). This project also lies within the

Tobacco Bear Outside Recovery Zone (BORZ)

for grizzly bears.

The area is important to Forest users for driving

for pleasure, developed and dispersed camping,

fishing, hunting, hiking, firewood cutting, cross

country skiing, and snowmobiling. The project

area has provided forest products to the regional

economy for many years. Timber harvest and

prescribed fire are important tools for vegetation

management in this area.

Background The Pinkham Meadow Project was initiated in

April of 2013. Following the Project Initiation

Letter, the interdisciplinary team was redirected

to other priority projects. The interdisciplinary

team evaluated the existing conditions and

opportunities for action in the project area. The

Purpose and Need was developed to respond to

the existing conditions in the project area and to

trend the project area towards the desired

conditions identified in the goals and objectives

of the 2015 Kootenai National Forest Land and

Resource Management Plan. This project would

comply with laws, regulations, and policies

regarding management of National Forest

System Lands.

Existing Condition

The project area

contains a variety

of habitat types,

ranging from the

lower elevation

warm, dry types to

higher elevation

cool, moist types.

Riparian corridors

are found along the major streams and tributaries.

The associated fire regimes in this area are highly

influenced by the inland maritime climate. The

project area shows evidence of a range between

frequent, low intensity fire in the low elevations

to mixed severity fires, with inclusions of stand

replacing burns, in the mid to high elevations.

Historic fire severity and frequency varies from

minor surface fires to stand replacing fires with

fire frequencies ranging from 15-350 years. The

existing condition of the landscape has been

influenced by historic fire events, followed by

years of fire suppression and timber harvest. In

areas which experienced frequent low severity

fire, resource specialists found dense stands of

*Photo Credit: Laura Jungst—View from Pink Creek

Pinkham Meadow

Douglas-fir with scattered ponderosa

pine and Douglas-fir overstory.

Following fire events in the mid and

high elevations, Douglas-fir, lodgepole

pine, and western larch have

regenerated. There has also been a

gradual conversion of species across

all elevations to tree species that are

shade tolerant, drought intolerant, and

fire-sensitive. These species tend to be

more susceptible to insects and

disease. These conditions have also

changed the stand structure that is

present across much of the landscape,

with a large portion of areas falling

into the small and medium sized

structure categories.

Past management activities have created

openings. Since 1976, opening size has been

typically limited to 40 acres or less. Prior to

1976, management activities created somewhat

larger openings. Many of these openings are not

representative of the conditions that would have

been created in a stand replacing fire event due to

size and shape. Past stand replacing fires in this

area have resulted in a variety of opening sizes

(100-5,000+ acres) and shapes that can be seen in

aerial photos (current and historic). Historic

patch size resulted in large areas of forage

opportunities that eventually grew into areas of

cover and security for big game.

There are currently 419 total miles of National

Forest System Road (NFSR) in the project area.

Of those, 132 miles are closed yearlong, 20 miles

are closed seasonally and there are 267 open

yearlong.

Desired Condition The desired future condition for the project area

is to have forests in a condition that have the

capacity for renewal and recovery from

disturbance. Forests in this condition have high

ecological integrity and are diverse and

productive. This includes healthy stand

conditions, adequate seed sources and productive

soils. Forest age class distribution and species

composition would be in line with reference

ranges. Forests provide a mix of seral and

climax species and are more resilient to climate

change and other disturbance. The majority of

stands would have healthy, vigorously growing

trees, but some areas would still provide dense

hiding cover and security habitat for a variety of

wildlife species. Endemic insect and disease

levels will be present. The desired arrangement

of these stands would modify wildfire behavior

by keeping fire on the ground, allowing for direct

-attack fire suppression on a typical burn day,

especially in the wildland urban interface.

Forests in this condition provide recreational

opportunities, attract visitors and tourists, and

help provide an economic benefit to local

communities.

Another desired condition for the project area

would be to have a transportation system in place

that provides safe and efficient public and

administrative access to the Forest for both

motorized and non-motorized recreation, special

uses, forest resource management, and fire

management activities. It would be efficiently

*Photo Credit: Warren Appelhans—Rexford Bench

Pinkham Meadow

maintained, environmentally compatible, and

responsive to public needs and desires. The

transportation system and its use would have

minimal impacts on resources including threatened

and endangered species, sensitive species, heritage

and cultural sites, watersheds, and aquatic species.

There would be no new creation of unauthorized

roads and trails.

Humans would continue to have a presence in the

project area. Opportunities for traditional recreation

activities such as hunting, fishing, gathering forest

products, hiking, cross country skiing and

snowmobiling would be maintained.

Kootenai National Forest Plan The 2015 Kootenai National Forest Land and

Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) provides

direction for management activities on the Kootenai

National Forest. Forest wide management goals, as

well as specific management area direction,

represent the desired condition that management

actions are designed to achieve. If you would like

more information on the Forest Plan and its

direction, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/

kootenai/landmanagement/planning .

Management Areas The NFS lands on the Kootenai National Forest have

been divided into management areas (MAs) with specific

direction identified for each management area. The

Pinkham Meadow Project Area includes the following

MAs:

Purpose and Need

The interdisciplinary team has identified the

following purpose and need for treatment to trend

the landscape towards the desired condition

identified above:

Promote resilient vegetation conditions by

trending towards desired landscape-level

vegetation patterns, structure, fuel loading,

and species composition. This project

proposes to accomplish this through applying

commercial and non- commercial vegetation

management treatments and prescribed fire to:

Promote western larch, western white

pine, and ponderosa pine

Trend the structure of the forest to the

larger size class

Decrease tree densities

Reduce hazardous fuels in the WUI

Restore the role of fire on the landscape

Provide a safe and efficient transportation

system for the public and administrative

access that has minimal impacts on resources

such as threatened and endangered species,

sensitive species, old growth, heritage and

cultural sites, watersheds, and aquatic species.

This would be accomplished by:

Prevent creation of new unauthorized

roads

Place roads that are not needed for the

next 10-20 years into Intermittent

Stored Service

Constructing new and improving

existing trails

Proposed Action

The interdisciplinary team has developed a proposed

action that includes timber harvest and associated

fuels treatments, prescribed burning, road

management, and trail management proposals to

Management Area Acres

% of the

Project

Area

MA 3 – Special Areas 112 < 1%

MA 6 – General For-

est 68,924 64%

MA 7 - Primary Rec-

reation 1,133 1%

Other – State and

Private Lands 37,861 35%

Water 151 < 1%

Proposed Action Table 1. Management

Areas in the Pinkham Meadow Project

Pinkham Meadow

address the purpose and need. Proposed Action

Table 2 shows a summary of the proposed action. Vegetation Management and Fuels Treatments

Pre-Commercial Thinning: The project proposes approximately 5,589 acres

of pre-commercial thinning. Pre-commercial

thinning is the removal of trees to reduce

stocking levels and concentrate growth on the

most desirable trees. This activity generally

occurs when the trees are less than 20 years old

and realizes no financial gain. The activity would

be accomplished using chain saws. In areas

adjacent to private land, hand piling of slash

followed by pile burning may occur, dependent

upon the fuels created. This responds to the

purpose and need by trending the structure of the

forest to the large size class, decreasing tree

densities and reducing hazardous fuels in the

WUI.

Commercial Thinning:

The project proposes approximately 4,093 acres

of commercial thinning. Commercial thinning is

a silvicultural treatment where subordinate trees

from all crown classes are harvested to reduce

stand density. The primary objectives of this

treatment are to improve stand vigor, enhance

forest health, and recover the economic value of

mortality. The residual stand would be considered

adequately stocked to meet most management

objectives.

View of Tobacco Valley and Canadian Rockies from the Black Butte Fire Look-

out Tower Photo Credit: Warren Appelhans

Vegetation Management &

Fuels Treatment

Approximate

Acres

Pre-Commercial Thin 5,589

Commercial Thin 4,093

Improvement Cut 3,360

Mosaic Harvest 346

Regeneration Harvest 492

Mechanical Fuels Reduction 3,090

Understory Thin/Fuels Reduc-

tion

223

Post and Pole Harvest 393

Prescribed Burning

(Maintenance and Ecosystem)

6,915

Aspen Enhancement 51

Total Vegetation Manage-

ment & Fuels Treatment

24,550

Transportation Manage-

ment

Approximate

Miles

Addition of road to NFSR 1.1

Convert road to trail 0.3

Decommission 2.6

Intermittent Stored Service 10.5

Restrict 12/1 to 4/30 to all

motorized vehicles

4.2

Restrict yearlong to protect

old growth

13.2

Restrict yearlong including

over snow

11.5

Construct new road 1.0

Temporary road construction 6 roads totaling

2.1 miles

BMP maintenance 251.0

Special Use Permit 0.3

Other Actions

Water Fill Site Improvements 7 each

Trail Construction 9.9 miles

Trail Improvements 1.4 miles

Proposed Action Table 2. Summary of

the Proposed Action

Pinkham Meadow

In some situations, regeneration may be

initiated, but the new cohort would not be

managed; total emphasis would be on the

residual stand. Commercial thinning would

result in approximately 50% canopy removal.

The photo in the center of the page is an

example of a completed commercial thin. This

responds to the purpose and need by promoting

desired tree species, trending the structure of the

forest to the larger size class and decreasing tree

densities.

Improvement Cutting:

The project proposes approximately 3,360 acres

of improvement cutting.

Improvement cutting is

a commercial treatment

that consists of a cutting

made in a stand past the

sapling stage primarily

to improve composition

and quality by removing

less desirable trees of

any species. In practice,

this method improves

the overall vigor of a

stand by removing trees

with short crowns with

low vigor, those with

poor form, those trees competing with more

vigorous or more desired species, or those trees

in excess of desired density levels. The residual

stand would be considered adequately stocked to

meet most management objectives. In some

situations, regeneration may be initiated, but the

new cohort would not be actively managed; the

major emphasis would be on the residual stand.

This responds to the purpose and need for this

project by promoting desired tree species,

trending the structure of the forest to the large

size class, decreasing tree densities and reducing

hazardous fuels in the WUI.

Mosaic Harvest:

The project proposes approximately 346 acres of

mosaic harvest. Mosaic harvest is a

combination of intermediate and regeneration

harvest techniques. The objective of mosaic

harvest is to sustain large fire resistant trees

through time by removing fire susceptible trees

that are competing with and decreasing the vigor

of the fire resistant trees. These fire susceptible

trees are also serving as ladder fuels that

increase the potential for stand replacing fire.

Regeneration may be initiated in many portions

of the stand but would be managed only in areas

where residual tree density is low enough to

permit adequate development of the new cohort.

Dispersal of leave trees would be somewhat

variable because designation would be based on

leaving the most vigorous trees. This responds to

the purpose and need

for this project by

promoting desired tree

species, trending the

structure of the forest to

the large size class,

decreasing tree densities

and reducing hazardous

fuels in the WUI.

Regeneration Harvest:

The project proposes

approximately 492

acres of regeneration

harvest. Regeneration harvest could include

shelterwood with reserves, seed tree with

reserves, or clear cut with reserves. The specific

prescription would be developed during the next

phase of the project, following more in depth

field reconnaissance. Regeneration harvest is

proposed for those stands where the objectives

are to initiate a new stand that is more resistant

to insect and disease attack, to reduce fuel

accumulations, and to capture the economic

value of dead and dying trees. This would be an

even aged silvicultural treatment. Stands have

been identified for regeneration harvest for the

following reasons:

Stands have sustained moderate to heavy

mortality and are too under-stocked to

implement intermediate harvest methods.

*Photo Credit: Megan Strom

Pinkham Meadow

This mortality is due to Douglas-fir bark

beetle in Douglas-fir; mountain pine

beetle in lodgepole pine; a variety of

endemic sources, such as stem breakage

due to stem decay in dense, older stands

composed primarily of Douglas-fir,

subalpine fir, spruce, and lodgepole pine

that are declining in vigor; or a

combination of these factors.

Stands that are largely composed of thin-

barked, shallow-rooted species such as

subalpine fir, spruce, and lodgepole pine are

not conducive to intermediate harvest methods.

These species are easily damaged during

harvest operations, and are not wind-firm or

fire-resistant. photo is an Root disease is

prevalent and the stand has a significant

percentage of susceptible species.

While regeneration harvest would retain most

fire-resistant overstory trees, the number of

trees remaining would vary, largely dependent

on their number and condition (vigor/fire

hardiness) prior to harvest.

Patches developed by regeneration harvest

would move toward naturally occurring

opening size and patterns. There are four units

proposed for regeneration harvest that would

create forest openings larger than 40 acres.

Creating openings larger than 40 acres requires

approval by the Regional Forester (FSM

2471.1). Regeneration harvest responds to the

purpose and need for this project by promoting

desired tree species, decreasing tree densities,

and reducing hazardous fuels in the WUI.

Post Treatment Burning:

All harvest treatments (Commercial thin,

improvement cutting, mosaic harvest and

regeneration harvest) would be followed

either by underburning, excavator pile and

burn, or entire tree yard/spot pile and burn to

reduce fuels left by treatment activities and to

prepare sites for regeneration. This responds

to the purpose and need for the project by

restoring fire to the landscape and reducing

hazardous fuels in the WUI.

Mechanical Fuels:

The project proposes approximately 3,090

acres of mechanical fuels reduction.

Mechanical fuels reduction would be used in

areas where stand densities and existing fuel

loads have accumulated to high levels within

the urban interface. The majority of the acres

within these units are conducive to excavator

operations, with slopes generally less than

35%. Treatment would consist of selective

slashing, with the resultant slash and the

existing natural fuels build-up being excavator

piled and the piles burned. Some non-

merchantable and merchantable products,

including but not limited to, the bio-mass

Example Shelterwood with Reserves Harvest

*Photo Credit: Megan Strom

Moose and Calf at Phill’s Lake

*Photo Credit: Warren Appelhans

Pinkham Meadow

utilization of chips, tops, firewood, and poles

may be removed. This product removal, where

it occurs, would not be the primary intent of the

treatment, but a by-product that would be

dictated by markets and the desire of the

operator to remove the material. Some areas

may exist within these units that are too steep

or inaccessible for machinery, or where soil

disturbance is a resource concern. In these

areas, denser pockets may be left for wildlife

benefits, or thinned, with the thinning slash

either hand piled or treated with prescribed fire.

Hand and excavator piles would be burned

under favorable conditions, usually in the fall,

when fire spread would be minimal. These

units may be underburned following pile

burning to achieve other objectives for the

stand such as treating fine fuels, stimulating

browse and reducing duff. This treatment

responds to the purpose and need for this



size class, decreasing tree densities and

reducing hazardous fuels in the WUI.

Understory Thinning/Fuels Reduction:

The project proposes approximately 223 acres

of understory thinning/fuels reduction

treatment. This treatment would be

implemented in units where there is a need to

reduce understory fuels. This generally occurs

on a small scale and in close proximity to

private land. Treatment would generally consist

of selective thinning of non-merchantable

understory trees with the resultant slash either

left on the ground to decay, treated with

prescribed fire, or hand piled and the piles

burned. Hand piles would subsequently be

burned under favorable conditions when fire

spread would be minimal. This treatment

responds to the purpose and need for this



size class, decreasing tree densities and

reducing hazardous fuels in the WUI.

Post and Pole Harvest:


of post and pole harvest. This treatment

consists of harvesting small diameter lodgepole

pine trees in stagnant stands to be used for

fencing or furniture. The treatment would result

in a mosaic stand. Fuels would be lopped and

scattered or machine piled and burned. A post

and pole harvest would appear similar to a

commercial thin. This responds to the purpose

and need by decreasing tree densities and

trending the stand toward the larger size class.

Prescribed Burning:


of prescribed burning. Two types of prescribed

burning are proposed in this project.

Maintenance burning occurs 10-25 years

following initial fuels treatment and is used to

reduce the natural fuel loads that have

accumulated in that time. It is typically used in

vegetation types that historically experienced

frequent fire return intervals.

Ecosystem burning is used in stands that were

historically maintained as more open forest

conditions by naturally occurring fires.

This treatment could occur in different fire

regimes resulting in higher fire intensities.

Stand that would benefit from understory thinning *Photo Credit: Megan Strom

Pinkham Meadow

Pockets of mortality, generally less than 5-10

acres may be acceptable.

Both ecosystem and maintenance burning would

utilize prescribed fire to simulate historic fire

cycles and reduce the natural fuel loads that have

accumulated over time.

Stands proposed for these treatments are

typically composed of mature ponderosa pine,

Douglas-fir and western larch. Some stand

density and species composition control would

be accomplished as a portion of the smaller, non-

merchantable and less fire-tolerant species

may be killed. Some slashing and/or

pruning may occur prior to burning to help

achieve desired fire behavior or to

facilitate safe holding operations. Prescribed

burning is used to achieve multiple objectives

that may include shrub and browse rejuvenation,

reduction of ground and ladder fuels, reduction

of encroaching understory growth of undesirable

vegetation species and promotion of growth and

regeneration of fire tolerant species. Objectives

would be achieved by burning at low-to-

moderate fire intensities, similar to those that

likely occurred naturally. This responds to the

purpose and need for the project by promoting

desired tree species, trending the structure of the

forest to the large size class, decreasing tree

densities, reducing hazardous fuels in the WUI,

and restoring fire to the landscape.

Management in Old Growth:

Some treatments described above are proposed

within old growth stands in the drier habitat types

in Douglas-fir/ponderosa pine dominated stands

to contribute to their stand resistance and

resiliency (FW-GDL-VEG-01). Approximately

416 acres of vegetation management treatments

are proposed within old growth and 645 acres of

treatment within recruitment potential old

growth. This includes mechanical fuels

treatments and prescribed burning proposed

within old-growth stands or portions of those

stands. The treatments would maintain old-

growth character, improve resilience and

resistance to insect, disease, and fire as part of

the desired conditions of the 2015 Forest Plan.

No regeneration harvest would be conducted

within old growth. The treatments would not

modify the characteristics to the extent that they

would no longer meet the definition of old

growth (FWSTD-VEG-01). Treatment in these

areas would promote historic patch size and

pattern, characteristic forest structure, historic

fuel loadings, and historic species composition –

thus meeting the purpose and need of the

Pinkham Meadow project.

Stand that would benefit from a maintenance burn


Prescribed Burning

*Photo Credit: Mike Burow

Pinkham Meadow

Management for Aspen Enhancement:

These treatments would be used to revitalize

existing aspen stands that are declining.

Methods to promote aspen regeneration

include cutting of existing aspen and

encroaching conifers, underburning, and

fencing. This treatment meets the purpose

and need for action of promoting resilient

vegetation and desired species compositions.

The project proposes 51 acres of this

vegetation management activity.

Transportation Management

Add a Road to NFSR:

The project proposes the addition of 1.1 miles of

road in the Roberts Mountain area to the National

Forest Road System. This road already exists on

the landscape, but is currently defined as an

“undetermined” road and is not considered part

of the Forest Service road atlas. The

interdisciplinary team has determined a need for

this road and adding this road to NFSR would

allow for management options. This responds to

the purpose and need to create a safe and

efficient transportation system.

Convert Road to Trail:

This project proposes converting 0.3 miles of

Road 7277 to a trail. This portion of the road is

currently open and considered part of the

Kootenai River Rails to Trails. The last 0.3 miles

of this road would be closed and converted to

trail. This responds to the purpose and need to

create a safe and efficient transportation system.

Road Decommissioning:

This project proposes to decommission all or

portions of 10 roads. (412B, 412C, 412D, 15061,

15071, 15071A, 1042C, 15562, 15562A,

15562B, 7281, 7293H, 7959D, 7278) for a total

of 2.6 miles. Roads proposed for

decommissioning have been identified as no

longer needed for current or future resource

management.

Decommissioning would stabilize and restore the

road prisms to a more natural state by restoring

the pre-construction drainage patterns. The

resulting long-term reduction in impacts

produced by these roads would benefit the

streams in the Project Area.

Decommissioning would also reduce the costs of

maintaining the transportation system. The

methods to be used for decommissioning would

be determined on a site-specific basis, and could

include the following: full re-contouring to

restore the original ground slope, partial re-

contouring to fill ditches or remove unstable road

shoulders, removing culverts and other drainage

structures, ripping the roadbed to reduce

compaction, installing water-bars, out-sloping the

road prism, seeding and fertilizing disturbed soil,

or blocking the road entrance and abandoning the

road to allow re-vegetation. This responds to the

purpose and need to create a safe and efficient

transportation system.

Place Roads into Intermittent Stored Service:

This project proposes to place all or portions of

nine roads (412, 7194, 7959B, 7958C, 7958D,

7958F, 7939P, 7939Q, 7939W) for a total of 10.5

miles into intermittent stored service. The

Current Aspen Enhancement at Camp 32

*Photo Credit Megan Strom

Pinkham Meadow

objective of intermittent stored service is to

reduce the risks, impacts, and maintenance costs

associated with roads that are not needed for a

period of 10 to 20 years. These roads are

typically restricted to public motorized vehicle

use yearlong, but may have some administrative

use. They currently continue to affect water

quality and wildlife security, and incur

maintenance costs. Placing roads into storage

would benefit these resources and result in lower

maintenance costs. Actions to accomplish placing

a road into intermittent stored service status may

include removing culverts on live, intermittent,

and ephemeral streams, restoring stream

crossings and natural drainage patterns, out-

sloping the road surface, removing unstable

material at seeps and slumps, installing water

bars and cross-drains, and seeding disturbed

sites. The road prism remains on the landscape

for long-term future resource management. The

advantage of placing a road into stored status

rather than decommissioning it is that the road

remains a National Forest System Road (NFSR).

A decommissioned road is no longer considered

a road, and is not to be considered for future use.

This responds to the purpose and need to create a

safe and efficient transportation system.

Restrict Roads Seasonally:

The project proposes to restrict all motorized

vehicles from three roads (7147E, 7147K,

7298E) from December 1 to April 30, annually.

This is a total of 4.2 miles. These roads would be

seasonally restricted to all motor vehicles to

facilitate the existing cross country ski use at

Virginia Hill. This responds to the purpose and

need to create a safe and efficient transportation

system.

Restrict Roads Yearlong:

The project proposes to restrict yearlong all or

portions of 11 roads (3668E, 3705, 7147A,

7147L, 7147S, 7214G, 7293J, 7926, 7938,

7926A, 7976) to protect Old Growth stands.

These restrictions would take place on 13.2 miles

of road that are currently open yearlong. This

responds to the purpose and need to create a safe

and efficient transportation system that

minimizes effects to old growth.

Restrict Roads Yearlong to all vehicles including over-snow vehicles:

The project proposes to restrict yearlong to all

motorized vehicles (including over-snow

vehicles) on all or portions of 10 roads (14980,

14981, 14982, 7147K, 7147M, 7147N, 7943,

7943A, 7943B, 7951). These roads are currently

restricted yearlong to wheeled motorized

vehicles and would apply to 10.1 miles of road.

The restrictions would facilitate the existing

cross country ski use at Virginia Hill and Skid

Creek. The project also proposes restricting 1.4

miles of the 7185 road to all motorized vehicles.

This road is currently restricted seasonally. This

responds to the purpose and need for a safe and

efficient transportation system. The project also

proposes restricting 1.4 miles of the 7185 road to

all motorized vehicles for management of the

Black Butte Lookout Tower. This road is

currently restricted seasonally. This responds to

the purpose and need for a safe and efficient

transportation system.

Construct New Road:

The project also proposes to construct 1 mile of

new road as access to Pinkham Falls upon

*Photo Credit: Annora Nelson

Pinkham Meadow

decommissioning the current access road, NFSR

15061. The interdisciplinary team has

determined that the location and condition of

current road is not sustainable. The new road will

be designed for better access and maintenance.

This responds to the purpose and need to create a

safe and efficient transportation system.

Other Actions

Temporary Roads:

For this proposal, six harvest units would require

the construction of a temporary road. This

includes units 38, 52, 53, 55, 162, and 184, for a

total of 2.1 miles. This responds to the purpose

and need for the project to allow completion of

the vegetation management activities.

Water Fill Site Improvements:

Improvements are proposed on seven existing

fire apparatus fill sites in order to provide a safe,

stable and efficient location for large water

tenders and fire engines to re-fill their water

supply. These locations would be utilized in the

event of a wildfire within the area or in support

of prescribed burning operations. All laws and

regulations would be followed and required

permits obtained.

Turn-Around Improvement would consist of

creating a wide enough area close to the fill site

for a large water tender to turn around. This

would be accomplished by removing material

from adjacent road banks, or adding fill material

to low areas. Leveling/Fill Material would

consist of creating a level parking pad for fire

apparatus to fill from in order to maximize the

capacity of their water tanks. Surface Hardening

would consist of adding rock and/or gravel to the

parking pad, turn around location or the

streambank. Pool Development would include

placing large rocks in the stream to facilitate the

formation of adequate pools for drafting water.

Fill Slope Improvement would consist of creating

a safe walking route from the parking pad to the

View of Lake Koocanusa from top of Weaver Draw

*Photo Credit: Laura Jungst

Proposed Action Table 3. Proposed Fill Site Improvements

Pinkham Meadow

stream and/or creating a level area large enough

to place a filler pump.

Trail Construction:

This project includes a proposal to construct

approximately three miles of trail in Weaver

Draw. Members of the public have proposed this

trail and recommended it allow the use of

mountain bikes. It would begin at Camp 32

developed campground and connect to Road

7182 (Pinkham). This trail would be for non-

motorized uses only. This responds to the

purpose and need to create a safe and efficient

transportation system by providing a trail

specifically designed for mountain bikes.

Also, approximately 7.5 miles of non-motorized

rail would be constructed as a portion of the

Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail between

the Abayance Bay Marina and the Koocanusa

bridge. This responds to the purpose and need for

a safe and efficient transportation system by

moving the trail off the currently designated

route along Highway 37.

Trail Improvements:

This project also includes a proposal to improve

and reroute sections on approximately 1.5 miles

of the Kootenai River Rails to Trails in the

Tobacco River Fishing Access Area. This would

include building switchbacks, building

approximately 1.0 miles of boardwalk through

areas with existing trail erosion issues and

creation of overlooks at scenic points on the

already existing trail. The proposed reroute

would add less than 500 feet of trail, but would

offer a defined trail rather than the multiple user

created trails through this area.

Timelines

A decision for this project is scheduled for the

winter of 2018. Implementation of project

activities is expected to begin in the spring of

2018 and last for approximately 10 years.

Design Features

Project specific design features will be

developed and refined through the project

analysis process. All design features will be

included in the decision document.

This is the proposed Weaver Draw fill site im-

provement area from both directions. Proposed

activities include creating a level parking pad and

turnaround improvements.


Pinkham Meadow

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Pinkham Meadow

Pinkham Meadow Proposed Unit Information

Unit Activity Acres

1 Improvement Harvest 14

2 Precommercial Thin 21



5 Regeneration Harvest 22









14 Commercial Thin 7






21 Mosaic Harvest 126












34 Mosaic Harvest 8















50 Mechanical Fuels 25
























77 Understory Thin/Fuels Reduction 93











Pinkham Meadow






































132 Underburn 108

133 Underburn 418

134 Underburn 39

135 Underburn 197

136 Underburn 555

137 Underburn 62

138 Underburn 241


141 Underburn 39

142 Underburn 158

143 Underburn 108

146 Underburn 589


149 Underburn 48

150 Underburn 28

151 Underburn 2059

152 Underburn 1783






























Pinkham Meadow


















































234 Underburn 36


236 Underburn 109

237 Underburn 41

238 Underburn 20

239 Underburn 123

240 Underburn 108

241 Underburn 45





























Pinkham Meadow

























299 Post and Pole Harvest 377

300 Post and Pole Harvest 16



























































Pinkham Meadow

























382 Aspen Enhancement 6








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Pinkham Meadow Proposed Actiona123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic... · 2017. 7. 19. · Pinkham Meadow Page 2 Introduction The Rexford and Fortine Ranger Districts