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Forest Service updates Broadwater County on timber sale, road work and fire-camp planning
Summary
Townsend Ranger District staff told Broadwater County commissioners the Wood Duck timber sale will proceed after a court decision, contractors are repairing Crow Creek and Indian Creek roads, and the Forest Service seeks a local point of contact and options for sites to host incident camps during large fires.
Aaron Webber, district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service Townsend Ranger District, told Broadwater County commissioners on June 25 that the contested Wood Duck timber sale continues after a judge denied a preliminary injunction and that operations are expected to finish by fall although the sale permit allows up to three years.
Webber said crews recently began temporary road construction in the Diamond City portion of the sale and that the Forest Service does not yet have a detailed timeline beyond the three-year contractual window. He also said crews are performing road maintenance on Crow Creek Road from the forest boundary to the Crow Creek Falls trailhead and expect work to be substantially complete in July; a closure was included in the contract through September to give the contractor flexibility.
Fire management officer Cody Crismore asked the commission to clarify the county’s process for offering county property as a base — a fire camp or incident support site — for large wildland fires. Crismore said the fairgrounds has been used previously and that the Forest Service and state had an agreement last year that allowed them to use state property for an incident. He asked county staff for a contact to coordinate future planning.
Commissioners said the sheriff’s office is temporarily supervising the county’s DES (disaster and emergency services) functions and that Deputy Reynolds is the interim DES contact. Commissioner Jamerrill (identified in the meeting) agreed the county could provide contact information and follow up. County staff and Forest Service agreed to exchange contact cards and to follow up by email and on the county website when Crow Creek Road reopens.
Webber added that the contractor will also perform maintenance on Indian Creek Road from the forest boundary to the Eagle Guard Station after finishing Crow Creek Road. He also reported grading work completed in the last two weeks on Duck Creek Pass and Cabin Gulch roads.
Why it matters: Broadwater County residents who use forest roads for recreation, hunting and access to campgrounds will face temporary closures and detours; the county and Forest Service are coordinating on incident response planning so local sites can be used quickly when major fires occur.
Speakers quoted in this article are identified from the meeting transcript and include Forest Service staff and county officials; the full transcript includes additional exchanges and specific timing of comments.
