Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public input on a potential forest thinning and tree planting project at Lone Pine State Park. The purpose of the project is to improve the overall forest health and timber stand diversity of the park.

A public meeting will be held at Lone Pine State Park Visitor Center, 300 Lone Pine Road, Kalispell, on Sept. 17, 2024, at 6 p.m. to review the proposed project and answer any questions. Input is being accepted through Oct. 18 at 5 p.m.

The purpose of the proposed project is to:

• Mitigate the spread of dwarf mistletoe in the primarily Douglas fir stand in the park.
• Removal of primarily mistletoe infested Douglas-fir trees (both of merchantable and nonmerchantable value)
• Mitigate hazard trees in developed areas.
• Reduce hazardous fuels for the entire park.
• Increase resiliency of forested areas to insects and diseases.
• Follow up plantings of western larch and ponderosa pine to improve forest species diversity.

Public scoping provides an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with FWP during the early planning stages of a proposed project. The intent of scoping is for FWP to gather comments, concerns, and ideas and/or issues from stakeholders who may be affected by a proposed project or its alternatives.