Montana Proposes Major Flathead Timber Harvest to Protect Power Lines from Wildfire

OLNEY, MT — The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is proposing a massive timber harvest near Olney designed to protect critical electrical infrastructure from wildfire damage while generating millions in revenue for Montana schools.

The Stillwater Power Forest Management Project would harvest 5 to 10 million board feet of timber across 5,753 acres of state trust land, creating a 300-foot safety corridor around Bonneville Power Administration transmission lines that serve the region.

“The primary objective is to establish an approximate 300-foot critical power corridor encompassing the Bonneville Power Administration’s existing powerline through the Stillwater State Forest,” according to the project proposal released last Wednesday.

The initiative aligns with Montana’s broader strategy to “harden critical infrastructure” against wildfire threats, a growing concern as fire seasons intensify across the West. Power line corridors have become focal points for utility companies nationwide seeking to prevent equipment from sparking devastating blazes.

The project area sits approximately two miles southwest of Olney in Flathead County, near popular recreation areas including the Whitefish Trail system. Temporary restrictions may affect the Lupfer Trailhead during harvest operations.

Beyond infrastructure protection, the timber sale is projected to generate substantial revenue for Montana’s education system. Proceeds will benefit multiple trust funds including Common Schools, the School of Mines, MSU Morrill, and institutions serving deaf and blind students.

DNRC’s Stillwater Unit will employ various harvest methods across the project area, including clear cuts, commercial thinning, and selective harvests designed to maintain forest health while reducing fire hazards near private property in the wildland-urban interface.

The agency emphasizes the project’s role in protecting both state assets and neighboring private lands. “Reduce fire hazard and associated risks of loss to the State of Montana and privately-owned land in the Flathead County wildland urban interface,” the proposal states as a key objective.

Road improvements and approximately 1.5 miles of temporary road construction may be necessary to support the harvest, though no permanent roads would be built. The project also includes provisions for noxious weed management, tree planting, and slash pile burning.

Wildlife biologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, and archaeologists will be consulted during the environmental assessment process, which is currently in the public scoping phase.

DNRC is accepting written comments on the proposal through October 3. Comments can be submitted to Joe Rizzi at the Stillwater Unit, PO Box 164, Olney, MT 59927, or via email at [email protected].

The harvest would contribute to DNRC’s sustained yield requirements under state statute and represents part of Montana’s expanded timber production goals, which have doubled statewide under recent federal legislation.