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Note: Not all projects may appear on map. See list below for complete list of projects with more information or documentation.
SOPA Reports
The Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) contains a list of proposed
actions for Flathead National Forest that will soon begin or are currently undergoing environmental
analysis and documentation. It provides information so that you can become
aware of and indicate your interest in specific proposals. We encourage your
early and ongoing involvement in any proposals of interest to you.
Proposed to plant whitebark pine seedlings on approximately 300 acres of suitable ground within the Condon Mountain Fire burn area. The planting would occur annually on approximately 60 acres of suitable ground for the next 5 years (2014-18).
406 Docks is requesting a permit to transport private boat docks to/from private residences along Swan Lake using the Forest Service Swan Lake Boat Ramp.
Action Rentals is requesting a permit to guide ATV/UTV tours on the Tally Lake and Swan Lake Ranger Districts between June and November. Maximum group size would not exceed 15 and/or 6 vehicles per trip.
Alpine Running Guides is requesting a permit to offer guided running trips to trail runners. Approximately 10-14 participants would be on each trip with 1-2 guides.
Authorize landowners to access their private property over 3,660 feet of closed National Forest System Roads. Prior to the placement of a gate on road, the landowner used the roads to access their property and presently have no access.
BIKEternity is requesting a permit to guide a bike tour in August that follows the Great Divide mountain bike route going south. Use is requested on the Kootenai, Flathead, and Lolo NFs. Requesting 100 service days for use on the Flathead NF.
Approximately 4.5 miles of fiber optic cables are proposed to be installed on National Forest System land on the existing Hungry Horse-Columbia Falls transmission line. Also proposed is to decommission and remove the Teakettle repeater.
To recover the value of wood products from the Baldy Fire Area on 51 acres of the 231 acres affected by the fire. Timely recovery of wood fiber would support the economies of local and regional communities.
Project will reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire and reduce fuels; improve habitat for wildlife; improve forest health; improve watershed conditions; remediate invasions of exotic species; and provide wood products.
This project would provide vegetation, transportation, and recreation management in the project area on the Hungry Horse-Glacier View and Spotted Bear Ranger Districts.
The purpose of this proposal is to upgrade the historic Big Creek Work Center Administrative Site to address deferred maintenance, safety, and structural stability concerns in several of the buildings and the septic system.
Management of the Whitefish Mountain Ski and Summer Resort is proposing to relocate Chair 5 to the East Rim area and extend Chair 4 to approximately 1200 feet to it's origional location.
A project to amend the Big Mountain Communications Site Plan to allow a one-time change for KUKL (90.1 FM, Montana Public Radio, a customer of permittee Weese Enterprises) to broadcast at its current FCC authorized power of 1000 watts.
This project proposed to reduce fuels around two electronic sites located near the summit of Big Mountain, lowering the likelihood of damage by wildland fire.
The purpose and need for this project is to improve visitor amenities at the summit, improve skier safety, and improve water delivery infrastructure by expanding the summit house, building a new patrol cabin, and drilling a redundant well.
The USDA Forest Service (USFS) Swan Lake Ranger District (SLRD) is proposing to install a National Fire Danger Rating approved remote automated weather station (RAWS) on Blacktail Mountain.
To stabilize and restore the Blacktail Road from the end of the Flathead County jurisdiction, milepost 3.43, to the top of Blacktail Mountain at milepost 13.87
Request to issue an Outfitter and Guide Special Use Permit to Flathead Off-Road Adventures who proposes to provide family adventure tours on ATV's on the Blacktail Wild Bill ORV NRT and other Forest Service roads open to highway legal vehicles.
The purpose of the proposed project is to enact erosion control measures and to stabilize the northwest portion of the Blankenship Bridge abutment and adjacent upstream riverbank while improving fish habitat.
This project will consider the following actions: Fuels reduction treatments, commercial timber sales, reclamation of roads, and installation and/or approval of existing mountain bike trails.
This project proposes to develop a cabin rental opportunity to be added into the Flathead National Forest Cabin Rental Program at Bunker Park (adjacent to
Bunker Creek in the South Fork of the Flathead River Drainage).
Restrict and designate a system of motorized roads, trails and areas that continue to provide access to the NF Flathead and MF Flathead Rivers and Hungry Horse Reservoir as well as manage motorized use adj. to Columbia Falls and Hungry Horse.
Management at the Whitefish Mountain Resort (WMR) has requested authorization to relocate and extend the Chair 4 ski lift corridor. The purpose of the proposed project is to increase skier circulation while utilizing existing terrain.
Management at the Whitefish Mountain Resort (WMR) has requested authorization to relocate and extend the Chair 4 ski lift corridor. The purpose of the proposed project is to increase skier circulation while utilizing existing terrain.
Watershed restortion project to improve fish habitat in the Jim and Cold Creek Watersheds. These two watersheds contain important bull trout spawning habitat. Jim Creek is considered "impaired" by the MT DEQ.
Extend underground primary cable & conduit for approx. 2,240 ft along F.S. land to border of private land. Placement of new cable, junction boxes, vault locations along east side of FS road 315 within existing road footprint at min of 36"
Proposal to harvest timber and interplant on approximately 1245 acres of NFS lands. An estimated 1185 acres of this harvest activity is located within the Wildland Urban Interface.
Feature film on National Forest System Lands including 3 actors, 25 production staff. Six days of filming between September 12-22, multiple locations on Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger Districts.
A project to reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland-urban interface, improve the health and diversity of forest vegetation communities, and provide a range of trail-based recreational opportunities near the community of Columbia Falls.
Proposal includes commercial timber harvesting, noncommercial treatments, and prescribed burning to improve diversity and resilience to disturbances such as drought, insects and disease, and wildfires. Project includes road construction/maintenance.
Project proposes to issue a long-term (30 year) road easement to the Montana DNRC authorizing construction and maintenance of road across National Forest System lands (Road 70223) to access State lands; easement would be 108 ft long by 60 ft wide.
A project to improve diversity and resilience of vegetative communities to insect and disease outbreaks, and provide a mix of forest products to contribute to the local economy.
Proposal to expand the existing gravel pit at Demers Ridge in the North Fork of the Flathead River. Removal of rock will occur within the disturbed footprint of the pit with the addition of up to 4 acre of new disturbance to the east
Heavy maintenance at campgrounds, boat launches, and group use sites as well as incorporating dispersed areas into developed site operations (Murray Bay Campground, Riverside Boat Launch, Emery Bay Campground, FKL Dispersed Area, & Abott Boat Launch)
The proposed actions include removing the pumphouse structure and water storage tank at the upper site and removal of a pumphouse structure, buried cistern and pipe, and chain-link fence at the lower site.
Extend a primary single phase 7,200 volt underground distribution line to serve the groomer shed at the snowmobile parking lot on Canyon Creek Rd. Roughly 1000' to the east FEC maintains a line parallel to the North Fork Rd and wishes to extend.
The Flathead NF is revising their forest plan and preparing an amendment providing relevant direction from the NCDE Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into the forest plans for the Lolo, Helena, Kootenai, and Lewis & Clark National Forests.
Flathead Dirt Riders Association has proposed motocross races conducted by the High Country Motocross Association (HCMA) at the Hungry Horse Racetrack April 30 -May 1. The permit would be issued for a four year timeframe.
Flathead Electric has requested authorization to install approximately 250 feet of underground power line along the edge of an existing utility access road near the Halfmoon Lake area.
Three fuel breaks are proposed in strategic areas to slow fire spread and provide areas of less extreme fire behavior from which firefighters can respond to wildfires, thus aiding in wildfire suppression.
The proposal includes no more than 3,652 acres of treatment. Implementation of this project would occur annually during the summers between 2011 and 2016. The proposed treatment acres have been refined based upon comments received on the project.
Flathead Outdoors is requesting a permit to guide e-bike, e-dirt bike, and dirt bike trips on the Hungry Horse, Glacier View, Tally Lake, and Swan Lake Ranger Districts.
The Foy's to Blacktail Trail Marathon would allow for approximately 13 miles of a marathon to be run on existing roads, and trails within and surrounding the Blacktail Mountain Resort area.
A project to reduce fuel loading in the wildland-urban interface, improve resiliency of vegetative communities, improve aquatic ecosystems, and provide forest products in the North Fork.
Glacier Adventure Guides has requested 75 user days to conduct guided day-use cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and educational classes from December 1 through March 31. Maximum party size is 8.
Glacier electric cooperative wants to bury an existing overhead electric line that is in an avalanche run-out zone near Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad snowshed 7. The buried line will be 550 ft. from existing utility corridor.
Glacier Institute is requesting to amend their existing priority use permit to include 224 additional user days for hiking on system trails on the Spotted Bear, Tally Lake, and Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger Districts.
Glacier Institute is proposing to expand its winter educational class opportunities to include several areas that are not covered under their current permit area.
The project involves forest health and fuel reduction treatments (harvest and precommercial thinning) in the Swan River Valley, south and west of Condon on the west side of MT Highway 83 to the south end of Lindbergh Lake.
Glacier Nordic Club has requested to host a cross-country ski event in the Cedar Flats area north of Columbia Falls. Event dates are planned for January 20-24. The estimated maximum number of participants is 250.
Glacier Ridge Runners is requesting 200 day-use service days to provide watercraft livery services to the Hungry Horse Reservoir and guide UTV tours on selected open-motorized National Forest System Roads on the Hungry Horse Ranger District.
Madison Browning is requesting 100 backpacking service days July-Sept. The use would include 1-6 trips with 2-8 people. Hikes would be on the Hungry Horse, Swan Lake, and Spotted Bear Ranger Districts.
Improve diversity and resilience of vegetative communities, reduce tree densities and fuel load within the WUI through commercial and noncommercial treatment of 39 acres.
A project to improve forest tree structure and species composition, reduce hazardous fuels, maintain and improve wildlife habitat, improve recreation opportunities,improve water quality and aquatic habitat, and provide commercial wood products.
A project to improve forest tree structure and species composition, reduce hazardous fuels, maintain and improve wildlife habitat, improve recreation opportunities,improve water quality and aquatic habitat, and provide commercial wood products.
Currently, the Hall Lake Trailhead is located on a Lake County road easement resulting in recreation users parking and impacting adjacent private land. This project proposes to relocate the trailhead to the end of an existing road.
The purpose of the Hellroaring Basin Improvements Project is to respond to a proposal by Whitefish Mountain Resort to provide additional winter recreation opportunities within the existing ski permit area boundary.
Highlander is requesting to host a non-competitive hiking recreation event. The event involves up to 100 people for multi-day hiking with camps at developed campgrounds in the northern Swan Range.
A project to reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface, improve the health and diversity of forest vegetative communities, restore aquatic habitat and hydrologic processes, and enhance recreational opportunities.
Extend InterBel's existing transport network to a new interconnect point north of Kalispell and ensure continued reliability of telecommunications and broadband service for local area residents and businesses.
Up to 15 trips for guided day hikes under the Journey to Wellness program with The Summit Health Club. Hikes would be approved on various open Forest system trails on the Tally Lake and Swan Lake Ranger District.
Kiwanis Club of Kalispell is requesting to host a one-day motorcycle ride event in July (date TBD) on system roads and trails. Participants are anticipated to be 30 with a max of 40.
Our proposal is to reauthorize, for a period of ten years, the Knights of Columbus special use permit for a statue of Jesus Christ located on NFS land near the top of Chair 2 within the Whitefish Mountain Resort permit boundary.
A project to reduce fuel loading near private property, improve diversity and resilience of vegetative communities, and provide a mix of forest products to contribute to the local economy.
The Last Best Ride is a gravel bicycle race/ride on Sunday August 21st, 2022, partially on the Tally Lake and Hungry Horse/Glacier View Ranger Districts. Race prep and clean-up to occur on Aug 20 & 22. Maximum number of participants will be 550.
A weather station is proposed to be installed on top of Link Moutain. The weather station would operate year-round and report wind, temperature, and precipitation data at hourly intervals. The data would be available for public safety operations.
Project to conduct mechanical silvicultural treatments in areas of ponderosa pine affected by the mountain pine beetle on the Swan Lake Ranger District
Project modifies two separate trail crossings over Lion Creek to eliminate an inadequate bridge structure, improve hiker and horse access, and reduce erosion.
Logan Health is requesting to host a marathon on September 24, 2022, with up to 1000 participants. Runners will start at Big Creek Campground and run south on the North Fork Road to Columbia Falls.
This project would occur in an insect and disease area designated under section 602 and 603 of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act; one objective of this project will be to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase resilience to, insect & disease.
The project will remove identified hazard trees within Lost Johnny Point Campground that are 1.5 tree lengths from developed campsites, roads, facilities and travel routes.
A project to remove hazardous fuel loading in WUI created by extensive blown over timber stands from aggressive winter/spring winds. Area is in designated landscapes for reducing both wildfire risk/extent and future insect/disease infestations.
A project to improve forest tree structure and species composition, reduce hazardous fuels, maintain and improve wildlife habitat, improve recreation opportunities, maintain water quality and aquatic habitat, and provide commercial wood products.
The Mission Upland Burning Project proposes to conduct ecosystem burning on 1,036 acres in the Piper Creek Drainage, Swan Lake Ranger District, Flathead National Forest.
Special Use Permit Amendment- Add approximately 350 feet of new cable to be installed along Jim Creek Road for approximately 138 feet to the intersection of Peck Lake Road and north along Peck Lake Road for approximately 216 feet to private property.
This project proposes to authorize Missoula Electric Cooperative to modify their electric transmission in several sections in the Swan Valley, Montana.
MEC has requested to bury 660 feet of new power line across National Forest System lands to private property located in Township 21 North, Range 17 West in Section 4.
The project proposes to install approximately 5,700-feet of single-phase electrical underground line and 2 fiberglass junction boxes along National Forest System Roads 9780 (SEC 23, T20N, R17W) and 90240 (SEC 24, T20N, R17W).
Montana Adventure Shuttle is requesting a permit for 50 service days to provide livery service, from June to September, for various locations on Spotted Bear, Hungry Horse, and Swan Lake Ranger Districts.
A project to allow Montana Department of Transportation to construct a stockpile site and equipment storage area on National Forest System lands near Essex, MT.
Blacktail Ski area is requesting a permit to host an Archery event. All activities associated with the event would be within the permitted Blacktail Mountain Ski area boundary.
North Valley Search and Rescue is proposing to conduct a 2-day advanced backcountry riding snowmobile clinic/training for select North Valley Search and Rescue and Law Enforcement members (estimating 10 students and 4 instructors).
Northwest Montana Adventures is requesting a permit for 200 service days to provide guided ATV/UTV tours on the Tally Lake and Glacier View Ranger Districts between June and October.
The Comprehensive Plan will develop administrative and management objectives and practices and desired conditions for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail on public lands in Forest Service Regions 1 and Regions 6.
Proposal to relocate the existing Patrol Ridge radio repeater from its existing site to approximately 1 mile southwest along Patrol Ridge to a better location for radio communication coverage.
The project would designate a less than 5 acre area as an administrative site for crushing aggregate and rock rip-rap development. The site is located off Piper Creek Road (NFS road #966) on Roads #91457 and #91456.
Proposed route is 300 yards and adjacent to the Essex Creek Rd.The area is managed as closed to motorized over-the-snow use. One single track with a width of 50-inches (snowmobile use only) would be authorized. Period of use would be Dec01-Mar31.
A project to improve forest tree structure and species composition and reduce hazardous fuels by promoting stands that are resilient to insects and disease.
Fish migration barrier installation upstream of the mouth of Red Butte Creek. Barrier would consist of a concrete dam about 6-feet high x 64-feet wide; the barrier would back water upstream for about 30 feet; rock placed upstream to avoid ponding.
Proposal to grant a nonexclusive perpetual easement for use of an existing road (known locally as East Red Meadow Drive) for legal easement access into private lands.
Improve forest health by removing lodgepole pine susceptible to Mountain Pine Beetle and improve overall stand vigor in an important winter and summer recreation area.
A project to reduce fuels, provide egress to local communities, improve diversity and resilience of vegetative communities, and contribute to the economy.
A project to Improve forest stand conditions, reduce hazardous fuels, reduce sediment and improve water quality, and provide commercial and personal-use wood products.
The proposed project would renovate the existing hatchery and outdoor facilities at the Sekokini Springs site for use as a westslope cutthroat trout experimental rearing and isolation facility.
A proposed project to salvage merchantable wood products from the Brush Creek Wildland Fire 0f 2007. The project is located approximately 20 air miles west of Whitefish, Montana. The proposal is to salvage wood products on approximately 6500 acres.
Install a fish migration barrier to reduce displacement of genetically pure or nearly pure cutthroat trout by non-native rainbow trout in Smith Creek in the Swan Valley.
Snowbike Nation has requested 200 user days to provide guided day-use snowbike tours from December 1 through March 31. Locations include open over-the-snow areas in multiple areas across the Flathead NF.
Treat stands susceptible to mountain pine beetle infestation (proactively and responsive). Additionally, promote release, growth, and regeneration of long-lived seral species to maintain and enhance forest resilence to future disturbances.
Harvest, thinning, and prescribed burning treatments to maintain or increase timber productivity and forest resilence and health; also favor the growth and establishment of whitebark pine.
A project to improve the diversity and resilience of vegetative communities, reduce fuel loadings within the wildland-urban interface to result in less intense fire behavior, and provide forest products to contribute to economic sustainability.
Vegetation treatments to address current and expected mortality from insects and diseases and to create or maintain forest conditions that are more resilient in the face of future disturbances (primarily wildfire, disease or insect infestations).
A project to reduce fuels, provide egress to local communities, improve diversity and resilience of vegetative communities, and contribute to the economy.
A project to salvage trees affected by the mountain pine beetle on an estimated 1309 acres of NFS lands. Project will utilize 0.8 miles of existing road, 0.5 miles of skid trails and 3.1 miles of temporary road construction to access affected timber.
Realign an access road near the summit of Big Mountain within the Whitefish Mountain Resort Permit Area and rehabilitate a section of the existing access road to provide safer access.
Expand the operating area for Swan Mountain outfitters to allow for greater flexibility and to adjust for changing on the ground conditions. Select current permitted uses would continue in the expanded area with no increase in service use days.
Multiple prescribed burns in the lower elevations of the Swan Valley primarily east of Hwy. 83 extending from the Swan State Forest on the north to Holland Creek on the south.
In response to a region-wide outbreak of mountain pine beetles, the Swan Lake Ranger District is proposing to apply the insecticide carbaryl and pheromone verbenone to ponderosa and whitebark pine trees in the Upper Swan River Valley.
An analysis to update the Allotment Management Plan for the Swaney Range Allotment consistent with Forest Plan goals and objetives while protecting natural resources.
This project would grant the Montana Department of Natural Resources and easment to construct two segments of permanent road, over existing templates, on National Forest System lands.
A project to increase forest resilience, reduce fuels, and provide a range of non-motorized recreational experience by encouraging trail connectivity while maintaining terrestrial wild life habitat.
The Patrol Fund has proposed to conduct a Level 2 Avalanche Course on side-country terrain of Whitefish Mountain Resort. The dates planned are February 18-22 with 12 participants. This permit would be issued for a four year timeframe.
A project to recover merchantable wood fiber, reforest desired tree and shrub species, prevent the creation of a fish barrier, improve public safety; this project also includes site specific amendment.
Vegetation management proposal in western larch stands to increase understanding of long-term ecosystem responses to several broad-spectrum climate change adaptations as part of a multi-region study.
USA Cycling (Flathead Cycling) is requesting a permit to host a mountain bike race in June with a maximum of 75 participants. The course would begin/end at Herron Park, with mid-course crossing National Forest System lands.
This project is needed because the popularity of dispersed recreation around Van Lake has increased, leading to increased effects to the surrounding area.
Venture Shuttles is requesting 50 total service days to provide livery services to trailheads forest wide. Transport would include 2-4 people and/or bikes April through October.
The project will reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect and disease infestation, reduce risk of uncharacteristic wildfire, and move existing disturbance regimes towards natural disturbance regimes.
The proposed action is to authorize minor modifications of ski runs in five locations to improve skier experience by reducing grade reversals and to improve safety by increasing visibility and decreasing congestion and speed differences.
Whitefish Outfitter Tours has requested 200 user days to provide guided day-use snowshoeing and cross-country skiing activities from December 1 through March 31.
Project will authorize Whitefish Shuttle to provide livery and guided biking and hiking opportunities in various locations of the Tally Lake Ranger District.
Whitefish Shuttle is requesting shuttle services (livery), guided van tours, guided mountain biking and/or hiking trips on Tally Lake/Hungry Horse/Glacier View system roads and trails from June to October. Maximum group size would be 14 clients.
Scoping of a permit to allow a portion of an ultra-marathon to occur on up to 14 miles of existing roads and trails within the Whitefish Mountain Resort permit area.
Whitefish Vertical Adventures has requested 50 user days to provide day-use backcountry ski guiding adjacent to Whitefish Mountain Resort from December 15 through March 31.
This project is intended to address forest health and hazardous fuel concerns within a portion of the Island Unit (near Lakeside and Kila) on the Swan Lake Ranger District.
