Lemhi Forest Restoration Group

A century of fire exclusion in the Upper North Fork (UNF) project area has resulted in ecological conditions that threaten the resilience of plant and wildlife species and natural functions. Native species are declining and the unnatural fuel accumulations increase the risk for extreme fire behavior which would destroy species habitat and important resources. Area residents, private property, and recreational and other assets have become increasingly susceptible to uncharastically large wildfire events. The Lemhi Forest Restoration Group (LFRG) envisions a suite of forest stewardship and management projects that would allow fire to play a more natural role on the landscape where appropriate and create less hazardous fuel conditions within wildland-urban interface areas. The Group supports activities that enhance aquatic, elk and other wildlife habitat, and that address the decline of tree species such as ponderosa pine, aspen, and whitebark pine. Native plants, especially grasses, would benefit from addressing serious noxious weed encroachment. This report provides an overview of monitoring activities and programs in the Upper North Fork.