Draft decision issued on Boulder Creek Restoration Project

By Reader Staff

Jeanne Higgins, Forest Supervisor for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, has issued a Draft Decision and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Boulder Creek Restoration Project located on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District. The objection period is open for 45 days. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the project during the scoping and opportunity for comment periods. 

The BCRP is a vegetation management project designed to address hazardous fuels, forest health and resilience, wildlife habitat, watershed health, recreation and heritage site management concerns.  The project area is located southwest of Highway 2, east of Naples, Idaho in Boundary County, and encompasses 40,612 acres which includes the Boulder Creek watershed. Treatments include approximately 7,400 acres of prescribed burning in natural fuels, and about 3,400 acres of commercial timber harvest in addition to ecosystem restoration improvements. 

Kevin Knauth, Bonners Ferry district ranger, recognizes the time and effort that stakeholders invested in the project planning efforts. 

“While collaboration requires additional work on everyone’s part, it results in a better project. I appreciate the community’s involvement in this project,” said District Ranger Knauth.  

The project was developed in collaboration with the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative to complement other landscape restoration work in the Lower Kootenai River Valley. The KVRI collaborative consists of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Boundary County, City of Bonners Ferry, private citizens, landowners, Federal and State agencies, conservation/environmental advocacy groups and representatives of business and industry.

For additional information or questions, please contact Doug Nishek, Project Team Leader, at dnishek@fs.fed.us, or 208-267-5561.