Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
07/01/2025 to 09/30/2025
Bitterroot National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Report Contents (click to jump to a section) :
-  Projects Occurring Nationwide
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest,  Darby Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest,  Stevensville Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest,  Sula Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Bitterroot National Forest,  West Fork Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Locatable Mining Rule - 36 CFR 228, subpart A.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  On Hold  N/A  N/A Sarah Shoemaker
907-586-7886
sarahshoemaker@fs.fed.us 
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes revisions to its regulations at 36 CFR 228, Subpart A governing locatable minerals operations on National Forest System lands.A draft EIS & proposed rule should be available for review/comment in late 2020
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57214
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. These regulations apply to all NFS lands open to mineral entry under the US mining laws. More Information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/minerals/locatable-minerals/current-revisions.
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Bitterroot National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)  

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Tolan Creek Watershed Improvement Project
CE
 - Watershed management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/31/2025  		Expected:06/2025
  		06/2025 Nolan Platt
4063637100
Nolan.Platt@usda.gov 
Description: The 2022 Trail Ridge Fire destabilized soils and stream channels in the Tolan Creek watershed. This project plans to mitigate negative road-stream interactions, enhance habitat for native fish, and improve watershed function and riparian habitat.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=67579
Location: UNIT - Darby Ranger District, Sula Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Tolan Creek watershed, NSFR 5740.
West Fork and Darby/Sula Ranger District Water System Improvement
CE
 - Recreation management  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 06/05/2023  		Expected:08/2023
  		09/2023 Erica Strayer
406-821-4298
erica.strayer@usda.gov 
Description: The Bitterroot National Forest is proposing to improve three water systems in recreational and administrative facilities.
Web Link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/projects/64227
Location: UNIT - Darby Ranger District, Sula Ranger District, West Fork Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Magruder Ranger Station, Paradise Guard Station, Warm Springs Campground.
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Bitterroot National Forest,   Darby Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Rye Creek Fuel Break Categorical Exclusion
CE
 - Fuels management  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 08/31/2023  		Expected:10/2024
  		05/2025 Jacquie Parks
406-821-4268
jacquie.parks@usda.gov 
Description: This project would establish fuel breaks in approximately 1,866 acres along approximately 24 miles of roads, of which 95% were affected by wildfires in 2000.
Web Link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/projects/64726
Location: UNIT - Darby Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project is located 10 miles SE of Hamilton, Montana (Ravalli County) in the Sleeping Child watershed.
Sleeping Child Fuel Break Categorical Exclusion
CE
 - Fuels management  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 08/31/2023  		Expected:10/2024
  		05/2025 Jacquie Parks
406-821-4268
jacquie.parks@usda.gov 
Description: This project would establish fuel breaks in approximately 2,130 acres along approximately 24 miles of roads in areas that were affected by wildfires in 2000.
Web Link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/projects/64728
Location: UNIT - Darby Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project is located 10 miles SE of Hamilton, Montana (Ravalli County) in the Sleeping Child watershed.
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Bitterroot National Forest,   Stevensville Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Bitterroot Front
EA
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 08/17/2023  		Expected:07/2025
  		07/2025 Steve Brown
406-777-7410
steve.brown2@usda.gov 
Description: The intent of this proposed project and associated project-specific amendments is to address wildfire risk to communities and promote forest restoration on lands administered by the Stevensville and Darby-Sula Ranger Districts.
Web Link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/projects/57341
Location: UNIT - Stevensville Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Missoula, Ravalli. LEGAL - Multiple sections in: T10N/R20W-R21W, T11N/R20W-R21W, T2N/R21W-R22W, T3N/R21W-R22W, T4N/R21W-R23W, T5N/R21W-R23W, T6N/R21W-R22W, T7N/R21W-R22W, T8N/R21W-R22W, T9N/R20W-R21W. Project area includes Forest Service lands on the eastern front of the Bitterroot Range from Darby, MT (Trapper Creek area) to Florence, MT (McClain Creek area) on the Darby and Stevensville RDs.
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Bitterroot National Forest,   Sula Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
East Fork Fishing Access Site Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Watershed management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/16/2021  		Expected:04/2023
  		06/2023 Mike Jakober
406-821-3269
Michael.Jakober@usda.gov 
Description: This project would use boulders to create a parking area and prevent unauthorized, motorized access to a user-created route that is currently causing damage to a wetland along the East Fork Bitterroot River.
Web Link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/projects/59533
Location: UNIT - Sula Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Forest Service land along the East Fork Bitterroot River at milepost 12.9 of the East Fork Highway.
Sula District Fuel Break Categorical Exclusion
CE
 - Fuels management  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 08/31/2023  		Expected:10/2024
  		05/2025 Jacquie Parks
406-821-4268
jacquie.parks@usda.gov 
Description: This project would establish fuel breaks in approximately 3,000 acres along existing roads, of which 95% were affected by wildfires in 2000.
Web Link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/projects/64729
Location: UNIT - Sula Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. This project is located 17 miles SE of Darby, Montana, in the Sleeping Child watershed.
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Bitterroot National Forest,   West Fork Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Sheep Creek Rare Earth Exploration Proposal
EA
 - Minerals and Geology  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 01/2025  		Expected:01/2026  01/2027 Daniel Pliley
4065876892
Daniel.Pliley@usda.gov 
Description: We have received 3 Notices of Intent for the 22-24 field seasons for Rare Earth exploration for Sheep Creek. No Plan of Operations has been received; NEPA analysis would begin after receipt. To subscribe for email updates click the link on the right.
Web Link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/projects/65203
Location: UNIT - West Fork Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. This Rare Earth Exploration Proposal would take place in the Sheep Creek area of the West Fork Ranger District of the Bitterroot National Forest.
Soda Baker Wildfire Risk Reduction and Forest Restoration Project Fuel Break Categorical Exclusion
CE
 - Fuels management  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 08/31/2023
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 10/2024  		Expected:10/2024
  		05/2025 David Fox
406-821-1226
david.fox@usda.gov 
Description: This project would establish fuel break in approximately 2,378 acres.
Web Link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/projects/64706
Location: UNIT - West Fork Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - T2N, R21W, Sections 27-30 & 32-34, T1N, R21W, Sections 5-9 & 16-20, T1N, R22W, Sections 22-29 & 32-34. The Soda Baker Project is located in the West Fork of the Bitterroot, between Soda Springs Creek and Trapper Creek. The project area is 4 to 14 miles SW of Conner, MT within the #18 ranked fireshed.
Thunder Mountain
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 02/01/2023  		Expected:04/2025
  		04/2025 David Fox
406-821-1226
david.fox@usda.gov 
Description: This project proposes to reduce fuels and wildfire risk within the Wildland Urban Interface, promote insect and disease resiliency and increase the health and vigor of early seral species (ponderosa pine) across approximately 466 acres.
Web Link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/projects/63393
Location: UNIT - West Fork Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Ravalli. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project is located near the community of Alta, MT at the confluence of Hughes Creek and the West Fork. T2S, R22W, Sec 34, T3S, R22W, Sections 2 & 3 .
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