Contact:
Erik Suffridge
(406) 587-6873
BOZEMAN, Mont., May 14, 2014–The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices in Helena and Whitehall are accepting applications for forestry improvement projects in the Tenmile drainage near Helena and the South Hills Lump Gulch area near Clancy, May 19 - 30, 2014.
The Tenmile project is part of the Chiefs’ Joint Landscape Restoration Partnership, an NRCS and Forest Service initiative to mitigate wildfire threats, protect water quality and supply.
The Tenmile– Red Mountain Flume/Chessman Reservoir provides the city of Helena with 80 percent of its drinking water. The project will receive $300,000 for forestry restoration on private land to protect the water delivery infrastructure, and 4.5 mile water conveyance constructed of earthen berm, wooden trestle, and metal lining (the flume).
“While much of the Tenmile watershed is owned by the Forest Service, there are many private landowners in the area,” said Mindy Gauthier, NRCS district conservationist in Helena. “We have worked with many developing forest management plans and want to offer our technical and financial assistance to others.”
NRCS will provide landowners within the Tenmile drainage and South Hills area in Jefferson and Lewis and Clark counties with both technical and financial assistance to install forest treatment practices that will reduce wildfire risks in the watershed.
For more information, contact in Lewis and Clark County, at 406-449-5000 ext. 101 or melinda.gauthier@mt.usda.govand in Jefferson County, at 406-287-3215 ext. 301 or nancy.sweeney@mt.usda.gov.
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