Tubbs Hill work could begin soon

Fuel mitigation work on Tubbs Hill could begin in May. 

“The driving force behind this project is public safety,” Nick Goodwin, Coeur d’Alene urban forester, said to about 20 people at the Public Library Community Room on Tuesday. 

A $240,000 federal grant, along with 10% matching funds of $12,000 each from the city and the Tubbs Hill Foundation, will pay for clearing and thinning of branches, thick brush, snags and downed trees. It will target 58.5 acres of the 165-acre hill that offers views of Lake Coeur d’Alene. 

A main goal is to remove fuels adjacent to abutting properties like McEuen Park and near high-use trails to create fire breaks. A second priority is to improve forest health, which is considered "good to fair health" on Tubbs.

While there will be some restrictions during the project, which must be completed by November 2026, Tubbs is expected to remain open, which is key as the hill is popular. A trail counter tallied 387,027 visitors on Tubbs last year.

“I don’t know if we’ll reach a time when Tubbs Hill is closed,” Goodwin said. 

Steve Bloedel, project manager with Inland Forest Management, said there won’t be any ribbons highlighting work areas. 

“We've had a problem with people tearing these ribbons down,” he said. 

Slash piles will be burned, with a goal of providing 48 to 72 hours notice, but conditions can make that difficult to predict. 

“Please be aware that burn windows are short," Goodwin said. 

Goodwin said no white pine or western larch will be removed and not every fallen tree will come out. 

“You’re going to see logs still on the ground,” Goodwin said. 

Bid opening is scheduled May 6. Work could begin as soon as mid-May, but more likely in June or later. 

The grant was approved a year ago. After a temporary freeze on grant funding, the project is in the planning phase.

Peter Luttropp said it’s a smart, preemptive move to protect Tubbs and neighboring lands in case of a wildfire.

Resident Cecil Kelly liked what he heard and said Tubbs Hill should be treasured. 

“It shows they care,” he said.