Live trees are left standing for natural seeding purposes, and standing snags are left for wildlife. Buffers of trees along rivers and lakes protect crucial riparian habitat for fish and wildlife. The Colville National Forest is divided into management areas that have different emphases. For example, the primary objective in one area might be timber management, while wildlife needs or recreational opportunities might be the prime focus in other areas. Researchers monitor tree growth and work to develop trees that are resistant to disease and adapt well to a wide variety of ecosystems.
Fire still affects timber management.
The drier portions of the Colville burn naturally every twenty or thirty years. Even modern fire control methods are of little use when lightning strikes aged lodgepole stands after weeks of dry weather. The White Mountain Fire of 1988 burned more than 20,000 acres, reminding foresters that fire, as well as timber harvest, can start a forest over again. Other natural resources also are harvested on the Colville. About 7,000 head of cattle graze on the national forest, allowing ranchers to grow hay on their private land during summer months.