Forest project planned at Gamlin Lake
SAGLE — The Bureau of Land Management is opening a 30-day public scoping period to gather feedback on a proposed hazardous fuels and forest health improvements on 328 acres at Gamlin Lake.
The agency manages the acreage as a special recreation management area. The BLM also plans to reroute two recreation trails to better protect sensitive plant species in the area.
A public open house to share information about the proposed project will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. on Sept. 28, at the Bonner County EMS Station located at 465838 U.S. Highway 95 in Sagle. Members of the project team will be available to discuss the proposed activities and answer questions.
Windstorms over the past several years have caused substantial blowdown throughout the recreation site, and the area has seen increased tree mortality caused by insect and disease. The overstocking of small-diameter trees has also created hazardous fuels conditions that could threaten adjacent private lands. The BLM is committed to keeping public landscapes healthy and productive, and plans to address these issues through commercial timber harvest and pre-commercial thinning.
An information packet, with more details and maps regarding the proposal is available at: http://bit.ly/gamlinlake
The BLM’s Coeur d’Alene Field Office is seeking input on the proposed action in order to develop alternatives for an environmental analysis to be completed this winter. Comments on the proposal are most useful if received by Oct. 18.Send comments electronically to blm_id_gamlinlake@blm.gov or by mail to: BLM Coeur d’Alene Field Office, attn: Gamlin Lake Vegetation Treatment Project, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID. 83815.
Before including your address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in your comment, please be advised that your entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
For additional information, please contact Doug Graves, BLM fire use specialist, at 208-962-3786.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.