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Forest Service details flood, blowdown damage and bridge plans at Lincoln County meeting
Summary
The U.S. Forest Service told Lincoln County commissioners on Jan. 14 that recent floods and blowdowns damaged critical bridges, campgrounds and timber-sale access across the district and outlined plans for temporary bridges, salvage assessments and emergency-repair funding requests.
At the Jan. 14 Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting, a Forest Service representative identified as Seth delivered an extended report on storm-related damage across the district, saying crews are assessing bridges, roads and campgrounds and pursuing temporary fixes and federal funding.
“We’ve got a bunch of pretty critical bridges… Granite Creek up Libby Creek between the Ramsey Creek Bridge and some others along that road that are challenging access,” Seth said, summarizing damage to road access and the agency’s plan to install temporary bridges. He told commissioners the agency’s engineer is preparing plans and seeking emergency-repair funds for federal roads.
Seth described damage at multiple locations, including Ross Creek and Spar Creek campgrounds, where washouts and landslides have made roads impassable. He said some sites may need to be relocated or rebuilt: “one of the bigger deals… the road in there is completely impacted and it’s going to have to be moved because of some landslides.”
The Forest Service also flagged opportunities to salvage merchantable blowdown in areas where whole trees remain intact, while noting much of the damage is in previously harvested or roadside areas. “Most of what we’re finding… we’re looking for larger areas where there may be salvage opportunities,” Seth said.
Seth reported program metrics for fiscal year 2025, including timber sale volume and fuels work: “volume sold on … in 25 was a little over 69 million board feet,” and the agency achieved roughly 30,000 acres of fuels treatment versus a target of about 17,000 acres. He said those accomplishments were aided by partner programs and the Good Neighbor Authority.
Commissioners and members of the public pressed for details about specific local impacts and timelines. On the Ripley project, Seth estimated it could be “at least six months to a year” to work through litigation and court steps. Commissioners asked for follow-up about a locally important bridge and caretaker residence near Kesler Lake; Seth agreed to get more information from the forest engineer and report back.
The Forest Service said it will continue engineering assessments, submit requests for federal emergency-repair funds where applicable, and coordinate with county staff on access and salvage planning. The agency asked stakeholders to monitor and participate in any public comment periods for planned sales and projects.
The presentation underscored immediate access and safety concerns for residents and contractors, and outlined next steps that include temporary bridge installations, grant or federal ER applications, and further environmental and legal reviews for contested projects.
