City sets sights on adding to its watershed

SANDPOINT — After several successful years managing the Little Sand Creek Watershed, the city has an this year’s plan in place for the valuable resource.

An important regional source of fresh water, the Little Sand Creek Watershed has long been of interest to the city. Officials have taken the initiative to purchase as much land in the watershed as possible in to protect the water source. Under the management of Mike Wolcott and his colleagues at Inland Forest Management, Inc., the land has provided a source of revenue through safety-enhancing timber sales in addition to its value as a natural resource.

This year should be a little more relaxed for the property’s forestland management, Wolcott told council members Wednesday. While 2012 and 2013 brought timber sales to limit fire and disease hazards and generate revenue, 2014 will focus on planting and infrastructure improvements.

According to Wolcott, timber sales from the last two years proved quite successful at reducing environmental dangers and generating revenue. The 2012 harvest collected 307,580 board feet for total revenue of $72,050, while the 2013 harvest was even more rigorous, selling 718,840 board feet for $155,070. The harvested trees were strategically selected to limit the spread of wildfire and enhance the region’s resistance to common local diseases and insects.

With sufficient lumber harvested in the watershed, Wolcott said 2014 will focus on other management activity. The plan is to plant 1,300 seedlings, complete burning of the 2013 logging slash, investigate the fuel break along the property ridge line and possibly replace a bridge in the area.

The objectives fit into the city’s watershed management plan, which was completed in 2007 and based on previous plans from 1977 and 1992. The plan’s primary objective is to protect and improve the watershed by acquiring new watershed property, reducing hazards, preventing soil erosion and maximizing forest productivity. Financial gains from timber harvests is a secondary objective, while the protection of wildlife, fisheries and aesthetic value is a third goal.

While the city owns 4,161 acres of Little Sand Creek Watershed, that only accounts for 56 percent of the total area. Other major landowners include the Bureau of Land Management, the state of Idaho and Schweitzer Mountain Properties.