Local News

Forest Restoration Planned East of Twisp

Jul 20, 2015

More than 10,000 acres of forest restoration work will get underway following Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Supervisor Mike William’s decision to move forward with the South Summit II Project. Work associated with the South Summit II project could begin as early as this fall.

Project activities are designed to improve, maintain, and restore forest and fuels conditions, reduce fire hazard, manage the project area's road network, and to improve recreational opportunities.

Planned work includes managing vegetation and reducing fuels around Loup Loup summit, Finley Canyon, and the area south of Benson Creek, east of Twisp, Washington. Road work, tree planting in the Finley Canyon area, limited prescribed burning, thinning, timber harvest, hazard tree removal in campgrounds and development of a new campground that accommodates horse use are all part of the project.

“We were close to a decision last year,” said Mike Liu, Methow Valley District Ranger “but a large portion of the project area burned during the Carlton fire. As a result, specialists modified the original proposed action to match restoration activities with the needs brought on by the fire.”

About 70% of the 50,000 acre project area was burned during the 2014 Carlton Complex wildfire. Areas either untouched or lightly burned by the wildfire continue to be vulnerable to forest insects and diseases and stand replacement wildfire due to overcrowded stand conditions when compared to historic conditions.

Details about the project are available online at www.fs.usda.gov/projects/okawen/landmanagement/projects or by contacting Meg Trebon, Interdisciplinary Team Leader at 509-996-4032.