Comments Requested for Tower Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project

Release Date: Jan 29, 2016

Contact(s): Shoshana Cooper

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is seeking comments on salvage and reforestation activities proposed on National Forest System lands affected by the Tower Fire. The lightning-caused fire burned approximately 25,000 acres of mixed ownership lands in 2015.

The project is needed to capture the value of remaining forest products in the project area, provide for public safety, and to re-forest suitable portions of the landscape affected by the Tower Fire. The proposal is to harvest approximately 4,271 acres of dead and dying trees and treat danger trees on approximately 52 miles of roads and 12 miles of trails within the Tower Fire perimeter.  The project also includes reforestation within the treatment units and approximately 83 miles of road maintenance and reconstruction.   

There will be an “open house” on February 10 at the Priest River Event Center, located at 5399 Highway 2, Priest River, Idaho. Members of the public are invited to drop in anytime between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Project team members will be available to answer questions and discuss the proposed project.

For more information about this project and instructions on how to comment, please visit the project website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48433 or contact the Priest Lake Ranger District (208) 443-2512