The Bitterroot National Forest has paused its four-year Eastside Forest and Habitat Improvement Project due to concerns about its impact on endangered species. The U.S. Forest Service decided to halt the proposal, which involves thinning and prescribed burning over a large section of the Bitterroot Valley, until more information is gathered on its effects on grizzly bears, wolverines, and bull trout. Compliance with the Endangered Species Act, through consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is necessary before proceeding.
Initiated in 2021 to reduce wildfire risk and enhance wildlife habitat, the project covers an area from Stevensville to Sula. However, several environmental groups, including WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed concerns over the project’s lack of detail, especially regarding its impact on critical habitats. They argue that without specifics on timing and location, assessing the effects on bull trout and other species is challenging.
Using a categorical exclusion, the Bitterroot National Forest pushed the project forward, citing historical use of fire by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes as a forest management tool. However, the agency now acknowledges that the project must comply with environmental standards as highlighted in the threatened lawsuit notice from conservationists.
The controversy also arises amidst broader changes under the Trump administration, aiming at revising the National Environmental Policy Act and easing the regulatory process for timber projects. Conservation groups emphasize the Bitterroot Range’s ecological importance and recreational value, urging careful consideration of wildlife and habitat conservation in the project’s planning.
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