Forest Service invokes emergency authorities, will limit analysis, start cutting wind-damaged trees and building temporary roads in response to two winter wind events.
On Monday, June 22nd, the Northern Region quietly announced a massive, emergency salvage logging project to cut trees felled or damaged by severe wind events in December 2025 and March 2026. Calling the damage “catastrophic,” the Forest Service has invoked emergency authorizations that will allow the agency to begin logging wind-damaged trees and building temporary roads on six national forests in northwest Montana and northern Idaho, including the Flathead National Forest, before completing any environmental analysis, consultation with Tribal Nations, consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on possible effects to protected species, or consultation with affected states.
Though this declaration was issued six months after the severe wind events back in December, the Forest Service claims that urgent action is needed now to prevent beetle infestations, reduce fuel loading from the recent wind events, and to capture the merchantable value of the downed or damaged trees before they decay. No mention was made of salvage loggings well documented impacts to soils, forest understories, water quality, fisheries, or wildlife, especially species like Canada lynx whose preferred prey, snowshoe hare, rely on dense understory.
The Forest Service provided no detail about the extent of the blowdown, where the blowdowns are located, or other information that could help the public understand the scope of the problem or potential work to be authorized. It only said that salvage logging, including both intermediate harvest (heavy thinning) and regeneration harvests like clearcuts, along with temporary road building to facilitate it, could occur anywhere on these six national forests except in Congressionally-designated Wilderness. Areas that could see salvage logging or temporary road building thus include Wild and Scenic River corridors like the Middle Fork, watersheds eligible for designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers, Inventoried Roadless Areas, recommended Wilderness, or other administratively designated areas, so long as the activities are consistent with Forest Plan direction.
The use of emergency authorizations limits public input and precludes any objection to the project that can resolve issues except through litigation. The Forest Service asked the comment to provide substantive comments within 7 days, which is Monday, July 29th.
The Forest Service has requested public comment, with a priority deadline of June 29th. Comments can be submitted at: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=328084
Or emailed to Chris Moyer, ℅ Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest at christopher.moyer@usda.gov (christopher.moyer@usda.gov).
Because there is no official public comment period, Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance encourages all concerned citizens to continue to submit public comments on this project until an official decision is issued, which could be as long as a year from now according to the Forest Service website.
Peter Metcalf, Executive Director of Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance, offered the following statement:
“While salvage logging can be an appropriate activity in response to wind events, especially around developed sites, or within the suitable timber base where existing road access exists, this project goes way beyond that, allowing the Forest Service to potentially log and build roads almost anywhere on our national forests except in Wilderness. And they’re improperly using emergency declarations to cut out the public, avoid analysis, and rush to get the cut out.
This is not acceptable management of public lands and resources. Whatever its commercial value, salvage logging is not benign. It has well documented harmful impacts to soils, streams, fish and wildlife, and the overall health of the forest. These effects, along with potential effects on existing recreational use or Tribal rights and resources, must be carefully considered and weighed against any potential economic benefit. Failure to properly analyze these effects could lead to long-term consequences for forest management that could be avoided if the Forest Service took its time and involved the public to properly evaluate a strategic response to these wind events.”
Update:
On Monday, June 29, 2026, Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance submitted public comment on this egregious project. You can read our comments here.