The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is asking for public moment on the proposed Cyclomoose Forest Management Project. Most of the work would be located in the Coal Creek State Forest near Polebridge. (See the map.)
Comments should be sent to:
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Attn: Cullen O’Brien
Stillwater Unit
P.O. BOX 164, Olney, MT 59927
Cullen.O’Brien@mt.gov
The comment deadline is October 16, 2025 so, realistically, comments should be sent via email.
For more detail, including project objectives, here’s the meat of the original press release . . .
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Stillwater Unit is proposing to harvest timber on the following state-owned parcels:
T34N R21W S 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15
T36N R22W S36
The proposed Cyclomoose forest management project is located near Polebridge, Montana in Flathead County. Portions of the project area within T34N R21W and within T36N R22W are located approximately 7 miles northwest and 5 miles southwest of Polebridge, MT, respectively. The primary objectives of the Cyclomoose forest management project are:
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- Generate revenue for the Common Schools, Montana Tech, MSU 2nd Grant, Public Buildings, and State Normal School trusts.
- Enhance the vigor of regenerated timber stands.
- Regenerate new stands of timber.
- Promote biodiversity on State ownership by managing for appropriate or desired stand structures and species composition based on ecological characteristics such as topography, habitat type, disturbance regimes, and unique characteristics.
- 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 project would harvest approximately 2.5-5 million board feet (MMbf) within a 5,500 acre project area. Harvest prescriptions would vary unit by unit and may include: commercial thinning, seed tree, shelterwood, individual tree selection and overstory removal. The proposed harvest would contribute to the DNRC’s sustained yield as mandated by state statute 77-5-222.
Road maintenance, dust abatement, improvements and reconstruction may be needed on existing roads to improve function and drainage of the haul route. Approximately 5 miles of temporary road construction may also be necessary. No permanent roads would be built as part of this project.
Other activities associated with this forest management project may include noxious weed management, pre-commercial thinning, tree planting, mechanical scarification, and slash pile burning.
The DNRC is in the scoping phase of the project environmental assessment, so all volumes, acreages and road distances are preliminary estimates. In preparation for this project, specialists such as wildlife biologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, and archeologists will be consulted.