The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have begun prescribed burns on the North Fork Clearwater Ranger District to improve elk habitat. The North Fork Ponderosa Pine Restoration Project had to be carefully timed to find a period of time when the moisture level of fuels was low enough and temperatures were high enough to enable the carefully planned burn. The entirety of the project will treat 2,185 acres of mature ponderosa pine in 38 stands through a mixture of non-commercial thinning and prescribed burning. This project will ensure the long-term persistence of ponderosa pines by reducing the risk of loss due to wildfire by reducing fuels. It will also reduce overmatured brush and create desired vegetation conditions, providing more palatable, available, and nutritious browse for elk from the Lolo Herd in their primary winter habitat.This project was made possible under the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) which authorizes the Forest to utilize the unique capacities of local, state, and Tribal governments to achieve shared stewardship objectives. This authority allows partners to perform forest and watershed restoration work, fuels reduction, heritage and wildlife surveys on the Forest that directly benefit local communities and small businesses. Skowlund explained that “Good Neighbor Authority projects provide the Forests and its partners the opportunity to leverage their respective strengths to achieve shared stewardship priorities.”

Ponderosa Pine