The Flathead National Forest’s Hungry Horse Ranger District has proposed a major logging project along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and in the Skyland area adjacent to the Badger-Two Medicine, including clear cuts, various levels of thinning, prescribed fire, and seven miles of new road construction, that the District says is necessary to reduce wild fire risk to private property, improve forest health, and restore whitebark pine. Notably, 71% of the 4,689 acres of proposed treatments would occur within the Wild and Scenic River corridor, inventoried roadless areas, old growth, or recommended wilderness additions to the Great Bear.
What's at Stake:
Along with any potential benefits, this complex project also poses potentially significant effects on the scenic value of the Middle Fork, roadless and wilderness characteristics, fish and wildlife habitat, including core grizzly bear habitat and bull trout critical habitat, wildlife connectivity across the US-2 / BNSF rail corridor, and human-powered recreation.
Preferred Comment Deadline: January 15th, 2026
Ask the Forest Service to prioritize protection of wildlands and fish and wildlife habitat in the Middle Fork Flathead River corridor. Comment on the proposed Granite Moccasin logging project today!
The Hungry Horse Ranger District has requested public input on their Proposed Action, with a preferred deadline of January 15th, 2026, though comments will be accepted later (Note: there is no formal comment period or deadline due to the “Emergency Authorization” the agency is required by the Trump Administration to use for this type of project).
Please consider including these points in your comments:
- Thank the District for requesting public input even though it is no longer required by law.
- Ask the District to offer a public meeting and site tours with thorough visual representations of the proposed treatment types when the draft EA is released.
- Treatment design and location should consider potential impact on wildlife connectivity and priority crossing locations on US-2.
- A substantive assessment of how proposed treatments will improve roadless area characteristics is needed!
- Whitebark pine restoration in recommended Wilderness should utilize hand tools and non-motorized access only, as currently required by the Forest Plan, not helicopters.
- No new roads! Even roads made “inaccessible” still cause long-term sedimentation and aquatic habitat degradation and facilitate legal and illegal access that degrades secure wildlife habitat. Any roads that must be built should be “obliterated” afterward.
Your personalized comments are an important way for the District to understand public concerns or learn new information, both of which can improve the project.
Submit comment electronically:
Or by mail:
Rob Davies, Hungry Horse Ranger District
PO Box 190340
Hungry Horse, MT 59919
Or hand deliver:
Rob Davies, Hungry Horse Ranger District
10 Hungry Horse Dr.
Hungry Horse, MT 59919
More Information
Visit the Forest Service’s Granite Moccasin Project page to download project documents
Read news coverage about the project in the Flathead Beacon or Hungry Horse News
Comment on major logging project proposed along the Middle Fork Flathead river
Ask the Forest Service to prioritize protection of wildlands and fish and wildlife habitat in the Middle Fork Flathead River corridor. Comment on the proposed Granite Moccasin logging project today!