Ovando, MT - July 16, 2008 - The Blackfoot Challenge announces a request for proposal to assess fuels mitigation in the 1.5 million acre Blackfoot River watershed of western Montana.

Forest fire is an increasing threat to people and forests in the northern Rockies. Years of fire exclusion linked with past forest practices have increased fuel levels. Recent climate conditions now exacerbate this increase in fuels, creating longer fire seasons and dryer fuel conditions, and causing fires to increase in number, size, and intensity.

The Blackfoot Challenge Forestry Committee formed to provide a collaborative effort to address forestry needs and issues in the Blackfoot watershed of western Montana. The Committee has identified the need to address fire risks throughout the watershed and assist in forming fuels mitigation task forces to serve all communities in the Blackfoot following the model of the Seeley Lake Fuels Mitigation Task Force.

This project will work in collaboration with all fire agencies in the Blackfoot watershed, including rural volunteer fire departments, state and federal agencies with fire management responsibilities, as well as established fuels mitigation task forces.

Project objectives are to develop baseline data and GIS support system, conduct a wildfire risk assessment for the Blackfoot Watershed, and support and assist the fuels task forces in the Blackfoot. The project timeline is from September 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008 and covers the entire 1.5 million acre Blackfoot River watershed in western Montana.

If you would like to respond to this request, please contact Gary Burnett at 406-793-3900 or gary@blackfootchallenge.org.

Under the 1972 Clean Water Act, each State is required to develop TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) for water bodies (streams, rivers, and lakes) that it has determined to be impaired or not meeting their designated beneficial uses within its boundaries. TMDLs refer to the amount of pollutant that a water body may receive from all sources without exceeding water quality standards. The State of Montana, through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), is going beyond the basic requirements of the Clean Water Act by working with local watershed groups and stakeholders to develop not only TMDLs, but comprehensive plans for the maintenance, improvement, and restoration of water quality.