After weighing several alternatives, Alternative 2 was selected as the best way to move forward on the TomaInga Project.
Ellen C. Bogardus-Szymaniak, Superior National Forest Tofte District Ranger, made the decision, and she laid out her reasons for making the selection.
Alternative 2 “Maintains the appropriate balance between creating a young forest and maintaining mature forest patches and, Alternative 2 sustains a diverse mix of age classes, species diversity and composition, creating a more resilient landscape.
“By reducing hazardous fuels, Alternative 2 will improve public and firefighter safety,” she wrote in her decision, which was made public on November 1.
Fire suppression will be accomplished through harvesting, understory fuels reduction and prescribed burning.
“Decreasing fire behavior and increasing defensible space can lead to better suppression tactics, minimizing impacts to values at risk, such as cabins and homes, provide for public safety and provide better egress in the event of a wildfire,” said Bogardus-Szymaniak.
The project reaches Isabella and all the way into the BWCA area near McDougall Lake. It includes 60,500 acres of national forest, and a combination of 48,700 acres of state, county, and private property.
“A multitude and mosaic or treatments will be used over the course of the 10-year project,” said Marshell Moy, environmental coordinator for the Superior National Forest.
The plan also improves habitat for moose because there will be new, young forests available for moose to browse and forage in.
“Shrub and tree regenerating following management activities under Alternative 2 would provide another 10 to 20 years of forage,” Bogardus- Szymaniak said in her decision.
The TomaInga Project Objection Period began August 25, 2018, and lasted 45 days. During that time the Forest Service did not receive any objections to the project; therefore Bogardus-Szymaniak said she was moving forward with her decision.
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