Local News

Annie Restoration Project Moving Forward

Aug 10, 2015

Restoration activities are planned for 5,200 acres of National Forest Land about 17 miles east of Tonasket, Washington. After surveys and a thorough analysis, an interdisciplinary team of resource specialists on the Tonasket Ranger District recommended the following objectives for the portion of Upper Bonaparte Creek Watershed that is south of State Highway 20.

Restore the structure, composition, and pattern of vegetation, and allow natural processes to function that will provide resilience to uncharacteristic wildfire and climate change as well as provide sustainable wildlife habitat.
Protect life and personal property of the residents of the Upper Bonaparte drainage by modifying the structure and pattern of dry forest stands.
Improve, enhance, and accelerate the development of habitat for lynx and their prey.
Reduce the impacts of roads on water quality, water quantity, flow regimes, noxious weed spread, and on wildlife.

After reviewing the analysis, Forest Supervisor Mike Williams signed the decision to implement the Annie Restoration Project on July 30, 2015.

To accomplish objectives, restoration activities will include thinning, about 1,700 acres of timber harvest and prescribed burning as well as fencing to protect aspen patches and wet meadows, and changes to the road system. Treatment will reduce overcrowding, remove diseased trees and create openings needed for trees to grow. Thinning would remove small trees to reduce opportunities for fire to climb into the overstory and reduce the competition for sunlight and nutrients; expediting the growth of desired tree species. Prescribed burning would be used to improve the effectiveness of treatments and to reduce ground fuels.

Additional information about the project activities, including maps and a copy of the Environmental Assessment, a document that discusses the anticipated effects of the project activities, is available online at www.fs.usda.gov/projects/okawen/landmanagement/projects