Examples of Projects that would not have happened without CFLRP funding
Trail Creek Bridge at Cottonwood Lakes Road crossing of Trail Creek (Seeley Lake District, Lolo National Forest)
o The previous condition was an undersized culvert that created increased road maintenance and a partial fish barrier that impaired access to approximately 11 miles of upstream habitat. The pipe size was approximately half the width of the stream channel. Notice the large scour pool below outlet of culvert caused by constricting the natural stream flow. The scour pool also is scouring the road fill causing a narrowing of the road and excessive sediment delivery to the stream.
o The project was completed in 2012 with CFLRP funds at approximately $135k. Bridge can now accommodate flood flow providing for passage of bedload and logs while providing for upstream passage of aquatic organisms. No road or bridge maintenance was required during or after the 2018 flood event and the project reduced long-term road maintenance at the site. Reconnected approximately 11 miles of upstream connectivity for westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, and western pearlshell mussels, as well as other aquatic species.
Old culvert, prior to replacement.
New Trail Creek bridge during 2018 high-water.
Stonewall Creek Restoration Project (Lincoln District, Helena - Lewis & Clark NF)
Stonewall Creek post-treatment. The creek is under the trees on the left.
In partnership with the Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the HNF reclaimed approximately 4,200 feet of Stonewall Creek where past mining activity changed the natural stream channel and fisheries habitat. The project consisted of removing large unconsolidated piles of rock processed during past mining activities. Rock material was moved to the junction of Forest Service roads #607 and #607-F1 for use on future road maintenance. After rock removal, in-stream and riparian habitat improvements included placement of rocks, log jams and other natural debris, also planting native riparian grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Stream banks were stabilized, slope of upper terrace banks was reduced, and soil was placed on areas of exposed rock to promote revegetation.
Mission-Upland Prescribed Burn (Swan Lake District, Flathead National Forest)
The Mission-Upland prescribed burn, accomplished in fall of 2014, was an ambitious project to re-introduce fire to the northern Swan Valley. This was a complex burn due to fuel loading, technical difficulty of implementation, and close proximity to WUI. Public outreach was extensive prior to the burn. The Mission Upland prescribed burn was to be implemented in a multi-phase approach, which required smoke approval for multiple days. Smoke approval was denied on the second day and the burn was not completed until the fourth day as a result. There were two spot fires on the burn. One was accessible and easily extinguished but the other required helicopters to drop water.
The fire burned 1,036 acres in the uplands of the valley including parts of the Mission Mountain Wilderness. Since then, additional prescribed burns have been conducted, with State partners, in the valley bottoms directly adjacent to the upland burn. This reduced fuels across a large area and created a mosaic of burned severity patches. It was also designed to improve conditions for whitebark pine. The fire not only restored resiliency to this upland area but also may provide fire managers greater flexibility in the future to let fire play its natural role on the landscape within the Mission Mountain Wilderness. Cost of the treatment was $187,000 ($180.50 per acre), the majority of which was for the aerial ignition and line holding.
Mission-Upland prescribed burn conducted in the Swan Valley in 2014.
Van Lake Campground Improvements (Swan Lake District, Flathead National Forest)
Van Lake Campground improvements included redesigning the entire campground layout. The access road was upgraded to prevent sedimentation and runoff into Van Lake. The road in the campground was graded, loops were added to each end, and the road corridor was widened for safety. Camping pads, fire rings, and picnic tables were added to each campsite (Figure 8) and new toilets were installed to prevent resource damage. Overall, the improvements increased safety for the public and employees by opening sightlines and making ingress/egress easier. All of the improvements will also prevent further resource damage to the Lake and surrounding sites.
