Boundary County Commissioners continue to press U.S. Forest Service officials to allocate funds and expedite timber harvest on federal lands within the county to mitigate potentially catastrophic fire risk, penning letters July 14 to both Idaho Panhandle National Forest Supervisor Tim Gilloon, Coeur d’Alene, and acting U.S. Regional Forester for the U.S. Forest Service Region 1 (Northern Region) Kristin Bail, Missoula.
Commissioners sent Gilloon a follow-up to an earlier letter that went unanswered:
“Several weeks ago, the Boundary County Board of Commissioners submitted a formal letter to your office requesting that you initiate consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the emergency provisions of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Our letter emphasized the urgent need to expedite timber harvest activities within Boundary County due to increasingly hazardous forest health conditions and elevated wildfire risks.
“To date, we have not received any formal response or acknowledgment from your office regarding this critical and time-sensitive request. As you are aware, the purpose of our original correspondence was to address pressing forest management concerns that directly impact the safety, economy, and ecological balance of our region. Delays in action or response hinder our ability to effectively coordinate local and federal efforts to mitigate these concerns.
“We respectfully request a written reply to our initial request at your earliest possible convenience. If additional information or clarification is required from our office to facilitate your response or the initiation of the emergency consultation process, please advise us promptly.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your timely response and to working collaboratively to protect the wellbeing of Boundary County’s residents, resources, and public lands.”
To Bail, they wrote:
“We, the Boundary County Board of Commissioners, respectfully submit this letter in support of allocating $10 million of the recent $32 million in supplemental funding received by Region 1 of the U.S. Forest Service to projects in Boundary County, Idaho, to directly support increased timber harvest and proactive forest management of the Bonners Ferry Ranger District.
“Boundary County and the Bonners Ferry Ranger District is uniquely positioned to immediately and effectively utilize this funding to enhance timber harvest efforts while advancing shared goals of forest resilience, wildfire mitigation, and rural economic vitality. Several key factors support our request:
- Immediate Readiness for Implementation: The Bonners Ferry Ranger District has several NEPA-ready projects within the Idaho Panhandle National Forest that could be promptly expanded or accelerated with additional funding. The Katkee Fuels and Moyie Meadows projects are identified for hazardous fuels reduction, forest health treatments, and commercial timber harvest.
- Collaborative Capacity and Proven Partnerships: Our county has a longstanding and successful collaboration with the Idaho Panhandle National Forest and the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI), as well as strong relationships with local industry stakeholders. These partnerships ensure efficient project execution, public support, and alignment with federal and regional forest objectives.
- Timber Industry as an Economic Pillar: The forest products industry is a critical component of Boundary County’s economy. Investment in local timber harvest directly supports mills, logging contractors, trucking firms, and numerous related small businesses. A $10 million investment will help preserve and create jobs while strengthening the supply chain.
- Local Infrastructure and Workforce Readiness: Boundary County has the workforce, road infrastructure, and processing capacity needed to scale up timber harvest activity immediately. With minimal lead time, this funding can translate directly into increased harvest volume and tangible economic impact.
- Wildfire Risk Reduction in the WUI: Timber harvest in priority areas will significantly reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface (WUI), particularly around Bonners Ferry, Moyie Springs, and other vulnerable areas. This is consistent with both Forest Service priorities and community wildfire protection plans.
“In recognition of the county’s readiness, economic need, and strategic value to Region l’s forest management goals, we respectfully request that $10 million be designated to Boundary County for timber harvest and forest treatment projects. These funds would be used to:
- Implement or expand NEPA-approved projects
- Improve access infrastructure (e.g., roads and landings)
- Support local logging and hauling operations
- Increase timber volume to local mills
- Advance collaborative planning for future projects
“We stand ready to support the U.S. Forest Service in delivering measurable outcomes from this investment and ensuring accountability to taxpayers and stakeholders. Thank you for your commitment to sustainable forest management and to communities like ours that depend on access to healthy, productive public lands.”