East Fork Meadow Creek sale approved

December 7, 2011

On December 2, Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisor Mary Farnsworth signed the final decision for the East Fork Meadow Creek Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA). The project will improve forest health and reduce the risk of high intensity wildfires and sedimentation in the Meadow Creek headwaters and involves approximately 1,297 acres of vegetative restoration work, 20 miles of road decommissioning, 2.8 miles of new road construction and 1.3 miles of trail decommissioning. “Our national forest has received a great deal of support for this project from the local community, Boundary County and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho,” said Forest Supervisor Mary Farnsworth. “I am confident that this project will be of great benefit to the ecosystem and for the water quality in Meadow Creek.” The Meadow Creek headwaters are the only source of surface drinking water for more than 100 households in the Beeline Water Association. Development of the East Fork Meadow Creek project began in 2008 when Boundary County Commissioners asked the Forest Service what could be done on federal lands in the vicinity of the Meadow Creek watershed to reduce the risk of unwanted wildfires and potential damages to the watershed. In response to the Forest Service’s decision, Boundary County Commissioner Dan Dinning said, "I want to thank the Forest Service and their staff for responding to the request from Boundary County along with the Bee Line Water Association. The East Fork Meadow Creek project is an outstanding example of a federal entity responding in a timely manner to a community by designing a project to protect one of the basic life sustaining needs of humans, water. I wish to thank all of those that were involved in this collaborative community effort." In May of 2011, the Idaho Panhandle National Forests staff completed analysis for the southern portion of the project area (available here) and issued a decision for that area while field work for heritage concerns in the north end of the project area continued. After reviewing the heritage, economic and other resource concerns, the Forest Service decided to withdraw the decision for the southern half of the project area, do additional analysis, and issue a Supplemental Environmental Assessment and a single Decision Notice for the entire project area. Friday's announcement marks the final decision for the entire East Fork Meadow Creek project. Copies of the Decision Notice and Supplemental Environmental Assessment are available online on the East Fork Meadow Creek project web page. Publication of the legal notice for this decision is expected to occur the first week of December and marks the beginning of a 45 day appeal period for this decision. For more information on this project, please contact Doug Nishek at (208) 267-5561 or visit the Idaho Panhandle National Forests website.