The creation of fuel breaks to reduce the extent of fires and reduce fuel loading to minimize fire intensity are being considered by the Bureau of Land Management in the Little Rocky Mountains outside the communities of Zortman and Landusky.
The BLM will hold a public open house on its Little Rockies Forest Health Project from 3-6 p.m. on April 18. The meeting will be held at the BLM’s Little Rockies Fire Station, located at 7265 Bear Gulch Road in Zortman. Public comments will be taken through May 2.
The work is being designed to protect structures and private lands from wildland fires. Forest health would be improved by treating aspen stands and natural openings for conifer encroachment and implementing stand density reduction treatments in mature stands, according to the agency. Other projects under consideration include:
• Shaded fuel breaks around the communities of Zortman and Landusky, and Whitcom Cabin.
People are also reading…
• Creating a fuel break along Beaver Pond Road and Landusky Plateau.
• Maintaining previous fuels treatments: Old Burn RX (2010), Chimney Gulch (2009), Hog Gulch (2009), Dry Gulch (2009) and Silver Peak 1& 2 (2009).
• Reducing conifer encroachment in natural openings to restore species diversity and maintain bighorn sheep forage production and use.
• Providing wood products to be used by local communities through green firewood sales. In addition, traditional timber sales and stewardship contracts may be used to facilitate the commercial removal of forest products.
• Removing hazard trees (i.e., dead trees, trees with substantial defects, or dying trees) near roads, trails, campgrounds and other infrastructure.
A description of the proposed project and related maps are available on the BLM’s ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2027358/510