The Lolo National Forest is proposing the Morrell Stream Restoration Project located approximately seven miles northeast of Seeley Lake. The project area is situated within the upper reaches of the Morrell Creek watershed and is located entirely on National Forest System lands. Morrell Creek is an important tributary to the Clearwater River and is designated as Bull Trout Critical Habitat by the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service.
The purpose and need for this project is the result of past riparian and valley bottom timber harvest practices. Approximately 5,000 linear feet of stream and streambank have been destabilized and are producing excess amounts of sediment from streambank erosion. This site is upstream of important spawning and rearing habitat for “Threatened” bull trout and “Sensitive” westslope cutthroat trout populations. Restoring and stabilizing the stream channel, stream banks and associated floodplain would return erosion rates to more natural conditions and reduce downstream impacts to bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout.
Work would be accomplished with heavy equipment (e.g., excavators, dump trucks, log loaders) and primary access would be via the stream channel. An unauthorized two track would be used for approximately 0.22 miles and then restored. This route would be used to stockpile material in the lower end of the project reach. Other minor access needs would utilize remnant skid trails and would be rehabilitated once the project is completed.
The project includes the following actions:
1. Restore sediment production from unstable and eroding stream banks to rates consistent with natural bank erosion. Approximately 1,200 feet of stream is above the Morrell Bridge and 3,300 feet below. Work would be completed when the stream channel is dry (July – October) in approximately six-eight weeks.
• Reconstruct the channel’s dimension (width and depth), pattern (sinuosity) and profile (gradient) to dimensions that allow for floodplain connectivity and mobilization of bedload and debris at more natural times and rates. Bank stabilization material (slash, logs and rootwads) would utilize a variety of tree sizes that would be taken from or adjacent to the site. Due to the 2017 Rice Ridge Fire, offsite material may be used in the event an opportunity can be taken advantage of (road rights-of-way clearing, commercial or small tree thinning, etc.)
• Plant native riparian vegetation and allow for natural vegetation recovery to stabilize and maintain the stream channel over time. This would be done with onsite native vegetation that will either be transplanted or grown from seed or cuttings.
2. Rehabilitate access routes.
3. Pre-treat and post-treat for weeds within the project area.
4. Monitoring would take place for several years following treatments and may lead to maintenance actions as they are identified.
Request for Comments
The Lolo National Forest is looking forward to hearing your thoughts about this proposal. Comments are due by Dec. 3. Submit written comments to Shane Hendrickson, Fish Biologist, Missoula Ranger District, 24 Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT, 59804.
The Seeley Lake Ranger District business hours for those wishing to comment in person or by phone are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, 406-677-2233. Comments may be faxed to 406-677-3902. Electronic comments should be submitted in .rtf, Microsoft Word or Word Perfect format to comments-northern-lolo-seeley-lake@fs.fed.us. Please include the name of the project in the subject line.
For more information, please contact Shane Hendrickson at the Missoula Ranger District, 406-329-3727, email shendrickson@fs.fed.us, or visit the Lolo’s website at fs.usda.gov/lolo.
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