The
Idaho Panhandle National Forests is inviting the
public to review and make comments on the Deer
Creek Project Environmental Assessment. The Deer
Creek project includes timber harvest, timber
stand maintenance, fuels treatments, and road
maintenance on approximately 30,000 acres of
National Forest System lands located north of
Moyie Springs, Idaho, on the Bonners Ferry
Ranger District.This project was developed in collaboration with the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI) as part of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program. “KVRI has worked collaboratively with the Forest Service under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program to develop the Deer Creek project; while there will be details to be addressed in implementation, I believe Alternative 2 represents the best option for enhancing restoration efforts and meeting the needs of the local community,” says Patty Perry, KVRI facilitator.
The primary focus of the Deer Creek project is to manage the area’s forests in a way that maintains or improves their resilience to disturbances such as wildfire, drought, and insect and disease outbreaks. This project is also designed to improve recreational opportunities, provide opportunities for local contractors and contribute to the health of the local economy. District Ranger Kevin Knauth said that he was particularly excited about the recreational improvements in the project proposal. The Deer Creek project is just one part of a much larger effort to pursue holistic ecological restoration throughout the lower Kootenai River watershed. “Working with the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative to develop and implement projects has been a key to our success so far,” said Ranger Knauth.
The official 30-day public review and comment period started January 22 and is open until February 22, 2016. For more information on this project, contact the Sandpoint Ranger District office (208) 265-6643 or visit the project website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44051.
This website provides the Deer Creek project documents. These documents include analyses Deer Creek area vegetation, fisheries, Native American rights and interests, forest fuels, soils, hydrology, recreation, and more. The site also has maps and discussion of the various Alternative Actions proposed for the area, including Alternative 2 mentioned by Ms. Perry above.