Forest Service eyes logging project in the North Fork

The Forest Service has begun preliminary surveying and other groundwork on a timber project in the upper North Fork. A formal plan for what the Forest Service is calling the Frozen Moose project would look to thin timber from Red Meadow north to the border, noted project manager Sarah Canepa.

Canepa talked a little bit about the project at the North Fork Interlocal meeting recently. She noted surveyors have been out to determine boundary lines in some places, as the upper North Fork has a lot of private landowners, particularly along the North Fork Road.

The area has burned over in the past — the Wedge Canyon Fire burned parts of the upper North Fork and Red Bench Fire burned parts as well.

But the timber is now growing back and very thick in some places.

Canepa said the plan is to reduce fuels around homes before the next fire.

A formal proposed action is expected to be released in October. The Forest Service wants public input on places that should be logged or thinned and places that shouldn’t, she noted.

In other North Fork news:

- Ranger Regi Altop said the Glacier National Park will be fixing the Inside North Fork Road before the Logging Creek Ranger Station at a section known as “Lover’s Leap.” It’s a spot where the river has eroded the bank and the road is compromised as a result. He said they’ll also look to fix culverts at Logging Creek that flood every year. On the other end of the road the Park plans to open it to Dutch Creek this summer.

- Oaty, the somewhat famous grizzly bear that spent weeks feeding in an oat field off the North Fork Road has now wandered off into British Columbia. He has stayed out of trouble, said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear specialist Tim Manley, though he is very habituated to humans. Last fall when the bear was feeding in the field, people were getting way to close to him to take “selfies” with the bear. FWP eventually trapped him and moved him so he wouldn’t harm someone.

There will be a “bear Fair” to greater educate the North Fork public on how to be safe around bears in Polebridge from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 24.