A spruce bark beetle epidemic and other natural insect and disease events have left large areas of the forest overstory dead. The standing dead timber is rapidly drying and causing substantial increase to forest fire fuels. These buildups of forest fuels increase fire risk to large private subdivisions within the forest boundary. A high intensity fire occurring within this area would cause significant damage to property and natural resources. T38S R9W, Sec.
Engineering design is underway.
Scoping will begin when design finalized. Several outfitter and guide permits have been issued on an annual basis. If these uses are to continue, it is appropriate that their long term impacts be assessed and that, if viable, permits be issued for up to five years. The proposed action is to fence approximately 1 mile of stream to exclude livestock until vegetative cover is reestablished. Analysis in progress.