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With a few pieces of low-impact logging equipment, Pyramid Lumber started thinning trees here
at Bass Creek this morning. The goal of Bitterroot National Forest is to make this a healthier
stand by removing smaller "understory" trees, which become like condos for beetles as they
spread through the woods\'85\ \
"Our two high use areas, Lake Como and Bass Creek, get about 300,000 or visitors more
annually. This site here, about 50,000 or more come and use this every year. We're talking
horse back riders, hikers, mountain bikers, campers. This is a really popular high-use
area. So this kind of work is critical. If we don't do this kind of work and mountain
pine beetle comes in and has the same impact that's had in different areas on the forest
people won't be able to use this. Because it won't be safe."\
\ "This one, in particular is at risk because
there are so many trees per acre. it's an overstocked stand. They're all about the same
age. So by thinning this out we'll provide a more resilient forest that the bugs won't
get in here and kill everything. Which would be the worst case scenario."\
\ What foresters are doing here is selectively
removing only certain trees. And once the equipment has gone through its easy to see
the difference between the original dense stand, and the logged area where the pines
have more room to thrive\'85\ \
"And they marked, primarily the understory trees. The ones that were less vigorous, less
healthy. And we'll leave the bigger trees to maintain the stand."\
\ "This project is going to last for the next
several weeks. The Forest Service is asking people that like to use this recreation area
to pay attention to warning signs and barricades, so everyone can remain safe.\
\ At the Bass Creek Recreation Area in the Bitterroot
National Forest, Dennis Bragg, MTN News."}