Crane Mountain Salvage, Flathead National Forest, Swan Lake Ranger District, Lake County, Montana

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The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the environment impacts of a proposal to harvest timber, use prescribed fire, and implement travel management changes on Crane Mountain, on the Swan Lake Ranger District. This EIS will tier to the Flathead National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) and EIS of January 1986, which provides overall guidance in achieving the desired future condition for the area. The Proposed Action is designed to implement the Flathead Forest Plan within the context of Ecosystem Management principles. The primary purpose for development of the Proposed Action is to address an on- going Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic which is causing extensive mortality in lodgepole pine on Crane Mountain. The Proposed Action is designed to address the short- and long-term consequences of the epidemic. The Proposed Action will reduce the likelihood of a large intense fire by reducing the accumulation of dry fuels through salvage of dead lodgepole pine and treatment of residual slash, accelerate re- establishment of a variety of tree species in area of high mortality, contribute to the current demands for timber