Forest Service seeks public input on Granite Fuels project
COEUR d’ALENE — The Idaho Panhandle National Forests are proposing a prescribed burn project in the 112,000-acre Granite Fuels project area in the southeastern corner of the St. Joe Ranger District in Shoshone County.
Most of the project area consists of recommended wilderness and backcountry areas, according to a press release. About 90% of the area is National Forest System lands. The remaining area is Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area, which is managed by the Idaho Panhandle National Forest as backcountry.
The Granite Fuels project is in the analysis phase and an environmental assessment has been prepared, the release said. Objectives are to reduce the risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfires and influence how wildfires and other disturbances shape the landscape.
The Forest Service is proposing to authorize prescribed burns on up to 10,000 acres per year over the next 10 years. The project will not include any timber harvest or road construction.
Public comments are accepted for a combined scoping and EA comment period until Nov. 14. Specific comments on the project will help the Forest Service finalize analysis and ensure public concerns are thoroughly considered.
The environmental assessment, maps, other supporting documentation and information on how to comment is available on the project website.
"Through managed burning, the project will reduce the risks and consequences of wildfire within wilderness or escaping from wilderness," the release said. "Vegetation composition and structure will be closer to the desired conditions identified in the forest plan. Browse conditions for big game species would be improved by regenerating shrubs as well as increasing palatable shrub, grass and forb availability."
Heavy concentrations of dead and down fuel would be reduced, allowing greater probability of controlling fires that display severe fire behavior. Stand density would be reduced, which in turn would improve resiliency to large scale outbreaks of insects and disease in the future.
Info: Jennifer Cinq-Mars at jennifer.cinq-mars@usda.gov or 406-499-4332