A series of forest projects in northwest Montana are designed to improve habitat for elk, mule deer and other wildlife while also regenerating forage, reducing the possibility of catastrophic wildfire and improving overall forest health. The Flathead National Forest announced a dozen such projects including one that includes funding from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Called Burnt Grouse 2.0 on the Tally Lake Ranger District, this 220-acre unit is in the Good Creek drainage approximately seven air miles southwest of Olney and was previously burned in the fall of 2014. Depending on weather and fuel conditions, crews may burn all or a portion of the unit this spring. In the event only a portion of the unit is burned, the intent is to reduce concentrations of fuel along the containment lines along the top and eastside. This area is big game winter range.
The prescribed fire will not only reduce fuel loading in the wildland urban interface created from the 2014 prescribed fire, it will also enhance winter range by increasing the amount of browse to big game for winter forage.
Click here to view the news release.
(Photo credit: Flathead National Forest)