Final Decision Signed for Wood Duck Project in Big Belt Mountains
Author: Chiara Cipriano, Public Affairs Officer
Chiara Cipriano
Public Affairs Officer
TOWNSEND, Mont. – April 5, 2024 – Today a final decision was signed for the Wood Duck Project located on the Townsend Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
“The Wood Duck Project utilizes active forest management treatments to manage widespread tree mortality,” said Townsend District Ranger Aaron Webber. “This project will bring conditions closer to what is desired in the Forest Plan.”
The Wood Duck Project area encompasses a total of 69,876 acres in the Big Belt Mountains, east of Townsend, Montana and north of U.S. Highway 12. The project takes place in both Meagher and Broadwater counties between the Confederate Gulch and Ray Creek areas. Proposed treatments encompass a total of 1,241 acres, including 936 acres of intermediate harvest, 42 acres of regeneration harvest, and 263 acres of pre-commercial thinning.
A larger-scale map and other documents providing information about this project are available on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest website project page:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62857.
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: United States Forest Service
Image 1 Caption: Wood Duck Project Area Vicinity Map
Photo Credits: United States Forest Service
Image 2 Caption: Crowded stands of Douglas-fir trees in project site
Photo Credits: United States Forest Service
Image 3 Caption: Dense lodgepole pine stands have experienced mountain pine beetle mortality and downfall. Lodgepole pine would be removed while healthy Douglas-fir stands will be retained.
Photo Credits: United States Forest Service
