US Forest Service Proposes Emergency Blowdown Logging Project in Idaho and Montana

The US Forest Service has published an emergency plan to address catastrophic wind damage on federal forest land in Idaho and Montana following two weather emergencies, the Daily Montanan reported (6-25-26).

The notice, issued by the USFS Northern Regional Office in Missoula, said the emergency salvage effort responds to straight-line and high-wind events in December 2025 and April. The Forest Service said the storms created large patches of overturned or downed trees.

“Wind-felled and damaged trees of conifer species native to the Northern Rockies are highly susceptible breeding material for associated native bark beetles, including pine engraver beetles, spruce beetle, Douglas-fir beetle, and potentially fir engraver and several species of wood boring insects,” the documents said.

The Forest Service said several years of drought conditions have stressed trees across the two states, making them more susceptible to insects. “The recoverable value of downed and damaged trees decreases with time,” the agency said.

USFS officials said emergency-condition laws allow the government to begin the project before an environmental assessment is completed and before a finding of no significant impact is issued. “This project will not be subject to the pre-decisional objection review process,” the agency said.

The Forest Service said the emergency orders also allow it to build new temporary roads or conduct road maintenance on existing roads for timber hauling. No clearing actions can take place on land designated as wilderness.

Critics have raised concerns about the short public comment window, which ends Monday, June 29, and the lack of specifics on where cutting would occur in Idaho and Montana or how the project could affect wildlife.