KALISPELL — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving into the first phase of the Lone Pine State Park Forest Thinning Project, a forest management effort designed to improve forest health and restore more resilient ecological conditions within the park.
Beginning this week, foresters are on site at Lone Pine State Park to flag and mark trees in preparation for future work. Field operations will start in the fall to limit impacts on summer visitors. Trailhead signage will be installed to help park users understand the purpose and benefits of the project.
The project underwent a full public review process, resulting in a formal decision notice issued in February. The project aims to restore some of the park's native forest ecosystems, restore ponderosa pine and native bunchgrasses where appropriate, enhance forest health and demonstrate how active forest management and prescribed fire are an important part of land management.
More information about the project is available on the FWP website.