BLM to host public meeting, seek public input on Big Hole West Forest Management Project

BUTTE, Mont. — The Bureau of Land Management’s Butte Field Office began a 14-day public scoping period for the Big Hole West Forest Management Project, March 19, 2025. The project aims to address increasing conifer density, conifer encroachment in riparian and upland areas, and high fuel loading across 6,500 acres of wildland-urban interface in Silver Bow and Deerlodge counties. 

BLM will host a public meeting March 26 at the Wise River Ranger District, 65600 Highway 43, Wise River, Montana 59762, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to discuss the project, gather input from stakeholders and answer questions. 

The BLM encourages public participation in the scoping process. Comments can be submitted through the ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2037223/510, March 19 through April 1, 2025. 

For nearly a century, conifer density has steadily increased in forest stands, uplands, and riparian areas within the Big Hole West Planning Area. The 2021 Jerry Creek Land Health Assessment found that some forest stands in the region have experienced mortality rates of up to 75% due to insect infestations and disease.  

The project’s objectives align with the 2009 Butte Resource Management Plan, which prioritizes reducing wildfire risks, restoring vegetation diversity, and improving forest health. Proposed treatments include: 

• Timber Harvest (up to 2,500 acres): Removing lodgepole pine and thinning Douglas-fir to promote healthier forest conditions. 

• Conifer Encroachment Removal (up to 4,000 acres): Cutting and removing Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine that have expanded into riparian and upland areas, particularly near aspen stands. 

• Prescribed Burning: Selectively used following timber harvest and conifer removal to manage fuel loads and restore natural conditions. 

For more details on the project or to provide input, visit the ePlanning website or attend the March 26 public meeting.