Bitterroot Forest Sets Meeting on Gold Butterfly Project

Early planning of the Gold Butterfly timber project east of Corvallis is underway. The project stretches between Burnt Fork and St. Clair Creek.

The Bitterroot National Forest is having an open house May 17 about the project in the Sapphire Mountains. The meeting will be at the Bitterroot River Inn, 139 Bitterroot Plaza Drive, in Hamilton from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Tod McKay of the Bitterroot National Forest said Forest Service personnel will be at the meeting to answer questions and also to hear from the public. A number of maps will be displayed.

McKay said the Gold Butterfly project includes timber harvests and prescribed burns to reduce "the extent of insect and disease infestation of the landscape and reduce the risk of wildfire."

Officials want to hear what people like about the area around Willow Mountain and what they'd like to see in the future. McKay said the collaborative project is proposed under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act.

For more information, contact Team Leader Marilyn Wildey at (406) 363-7101. Information is also at the Bitterroot National Forest website.