The removal of trees near the Red Mountain Flume which supplies the city of Helena with the bulk of its municipal water took a big step forward with the recent finding by the Helena National Forest that the work would not have a significant impact on forest health.
William Avey, the Helena National Forests acting supervisor, recently announced the release of the Environmental Assessment and draft Decision Notice/ Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Red Mountain Flume Chessman Reservoir Project.
The project is key to reducing risk to this infrastructure from wildfire and falling trees, Avey said. The treatments are designed to diminish this threat and would complement actions already being implemented by the city of Helena along the flume on private lands.
The work will take place on about 490 acres along the flume and around the Chessman Reservoir, which are located about 10 miles southwest of Helena in the same drainage as the town of Rimini. Large portions of the metal flume sit atop wooden trestles, and the city raised concerns a few years ago that if a wildfire raced through trees killed from the mountain pine beetle epidemic, as well as thick stands of live trees, the flames could destroy the flume. In addition, city officials noted that a wildfire in the watershed could lead to accelerated erosion of slopes, ashes in the reservoir and water supply system, and debris flows that could harm both the flume and the reservoir.
Kathy Bushnell, a spokeswoman for the Helena forest, said that they hope to begin implementing the tree removal later this fall, and intend on wrapping up the effort before next summer.
What we can do depends on being able to get in there with the equipment, Bushnell said. We want the ground to be frozen. The goal is to get it done within the year.
Don Clark, Helenas water and wastewater treatment superintendent, said hes thrilled with the decision to move forward.
I think were finally going to see this happen, Clark said on Tuesday. Were glad folks are going to agree on it and protect our water source.
Generally speaking, the plan calls for fuel break treatments on 158 acres; clearcuts with some trees left behind on 317 acres, using mechanical means; and hand-treatment methods on 58 acres. All of the felling would be followed by prescribed burns, which would also take care of some slash piles left over from work on interspersed private property.
About half a mile of temporary roads would be constructed for the project, then obliterated afterward.
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Tree removal near Red Mountain Flume OK’d