$13 Million in Stimulus Headed to Flathead National Forest

By Kellyn Brown, 6-03-09

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Tuesday that more than $228 million in stimulus funds will be used to improve U.S. Forest Service land. Of that, $13.3 million is heading to the Flathead National Forest, according to Forest Supervisor Cathy Barbouletos.

“We are pleased to be able to complete some deferred maintenance and improvements across the forest and facilitate this funding in Flathead County and Northwest Montana,” Barbouletos said in a prepared statement Wednesday.

Here’s the list of projects in which the money will be used:

Gravel resurfacing on Eastside and Westside Hungry Horse Reservoir Roads, and Tally Lake Road (Forest Roads #38, #895 and #913), and asphalt replacement on the first 11 miles of the Westside Road,

Improvements at Doris Point Boat Launch and Doris Creek Campground located along the Westside of the Hungry Horse Reservoir,

Asphalt treatments, including overlay/replacement, and culvert replacement on Griffin Creek Road, Forest Road #538 located on the Tally Lake District west of Kalispell,

Safety and informational sign replacements across the forest,

Asphalt replacement at Swan Lake Campground and Picnic Area south of Bigfork,

Culvert replacements improving fish passage located at various locations across the forest,

Gravel resurfacing on the Falls Creek Road, Forest Road #901, on the Swan Lake District

Gravel resurfacing and safety turnout improvements on the Jewel Basin Road, Forest Road #5392 on the Swan Lake District

Road decommissioning on approximately 50 miles of road identified in prior environmental analysis,

Improvements at trailheads across the forest,

Reconstruction of four bridges across the forest.

Anyone seeking information about contracting with the federal government on these and other projects may visit www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead and click on “A Guide to Doing Business with the Forest Service.” [End of article]