Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF to Spray for Bark Beetles in Recreation Areas

Release Date: Jun 14, 2011

Contact(s): Leona Rodreick, MT

     The Forest Service will be applying insecticides in recreation sites throughout the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest over the next few weeks.   The need for this is driven by the current mountain pine beetle epidemic, which has heavily affected many areas throughout southwest Montana and has already impacted some individual trees within popular recreation areas. 

     If you’re planning your annual family outing on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, or if it’s your first venture to the 3.35 million acres of Montana woodland, you may note that many of the recreation sites will look different than seen in years past or in the pictures that may have prompted your destination.

     “We’ll begin in June with individual tree treatments in those places that we know a large majority of Forest visitors and users will be this summer – campgrounds, day-use areas and trailheads,” stated Bruce Schuelke, Reforestation Forester for the Forest.  “To be effective, we must spray the green trees before the beetles fly again in mid-summer when they’ll bore into and lay their eggs in new-found trees.”  In addition Schuelke stated, “Campground users will notice packets stapled to trees.  These 2”x2” packets are Verbenone and/or MCH and are used to ward away bark beetles in area’s that we cannot spray the Carbaryl pesticides because of being too close to water”.

     Beginning mid June and continuing through mid July depending upon the weather, a Forest Service workforce and contract sprayers will be spraying Carbaryl to protect individual pine trees from mountain pine beetles in recreation sites on the following ranger districts of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest:

 

Dillon Ranger District, (406) 683-3900 Lemhi Pass to Jackson:

Dinner Station campground & picnic area

Reservoir Lake campground & picnic area

Sacajawea campground and picnic area

Pioneer Mt. Byway:

Maverick Ski Hill day use area

Grasshopper campground

Price Creek campground

Wise River Ranger District, (406) 832-3178   Pioneer Mt. Byway:

4th of July campground

Boulder Creek campground

Lodgepole 2 campground

Grand Vista day use area

Little Joe campground

Lupine snow park/warming cabin Mono Creek campground

Pettengill campground

Willow campground

Lower Seymore campground

Pintler picnic area

Wisdom Ranger District, (406) 689-3243   May Creek campground

Miner campground

Twin Lakes campground

Steel Creek campground

Mussigbrod campground

Van Houghton North campground

Van Houghton South campground

Butte Ranger District, (406) 494-2147   Archery range Low Eagles Nest picnic area Lowlands campground and picnic area

Highland trailhead Maney Lake picnic area Mormon Gulch Sheepshead day use area Freedom Point day use area

Beaverdam campground

Madison Ranger District, (406) 682-4253 in Ennis Cliff Point campground

Wade Lake campground

Madison campground

Mill Creek campground

Potosi campground Hill Top campground Branham Lake campground

Jefferson Ranger District, (406) 287-3223 in Whitehall Pigeon Creek campground

Toll Mountain campground

White House campground/dispersed sites

Homestake picnic area

Delmoe Lake campground

Delmoe Lake picnic area

Pintler Ranger District, (406) 859-3211 in Philipsburg Discovery Ski Hill Douglas Creek cabin Camp Watanopa Girl Scout Camp Lodgepole campground Moose Creek cabin Anaconda Job Corps Orofino campground

Racetrack T2

Spring Hill campground

Spring Hill administrative cabin

Echo Lake picnic area

Cable Creek campground

Red Bridge boating site

Pebble Beach fishing access

Philipsburg Bay A campground

Philipsburg Bay B campground

Philipsburg Bay C campground

Rainbow Bay picnic area

Piney Loop A campground

Piney Loop B picnic area

Badger Bay fishing access

Flint Creek campground

East Fork campground

Spillway campground

Copper Creek campground

Moose Lake fishing access

Stony campground

Stony rental cabin

     These sites will be closed during spraying and reopened the following day.  Signs will be posted at locations where work is occurring with information on the chemical used, closure period, including a potential time when the location can once again be used. Exposure of the public to Carbaryl spray, verbenone packets and MCH packets should be minimal to non-existent.

     Weather will affect the spraying schedule as application will not occur on windy or rainy days, nor will it be done within 75 feet of water.  Picnic tables, fire pits and restroom doors will be covered with plastic during spraying.

     Further information about these activities can be obtained from Joan Williams at (406) 859-3211, or Bruce Schuelke at (406-494-0241.