Sun Valley Co. and a Montana-based consultant this week proposed a far-reaching plan to save hundreds of acres of deteriorating forest on Bald Mountain.
Wally Huffman, Sun Valley Co. general manager, and Barry Dutton, soil scientist for Land & Water Consulting, are asking the Sawtooth National Forest to approve a plan to increase the diversity of trees and plants within the Bald Mountain ski area boundary.
The proposal was made public Tuesday, Feb. 15, as Sun Valley Co. presented a 10-year plan for developing and managing the vast public lands on Bald Mountain that it leases from the federal government. Those lands include approximately 1,750 acres of forest.
In presenting the plan, Huffman said he believes it is critical for the company and the U.S. Forest Service to cooperate on dealing with a widespread "forest-health problem" on Bald Mountain.
Huffman said Sun Valley Co. managers to date have not had a "well-devised strategy" for maintaining the health of Baldy's forested areas but they do believe an effective plan can now be implemented.
The problem on Baldy, Dutton said, is that the old Douglas fir and sub-alpine fir trees that dominate the forest are infected by a parasite called dwarf mistletoe, and have been additionally stressed by drought.
At the same time, mature lodgepole pine trees have been lost to age and infestations of mountain pine beetles, he said, while other species, including aspen and whitebark pine, have mostly died out, in part because of age and competition with the fir trees.
The historic long-term cycles of fires burning the old forest and encouraging a diversity of tree and plant species to grow anew has been suppressed, he said, prompting the need for human intervention.
"If we don't do anything, we are going to have a 'bald mountain' in the next four decades," Dutton said.
The plan for regenerating Baldy's forests, Dutton said, includes:
· Removing hazardous and diseased trees.
· Protecting high-value trees, like whitebark pines and large Douglas firs, some of which are 500 years old.
· Thinning overcrowded areas.
· Cutting trees from areas lacking diversity and planting desired species, such as lodgepole pine and aspen.
· Cutting some parts of the forest overstory—the high point where the tops of trees tend to converge—to allow new growth on the forest floor.
· Planting fast-growing species, such as aspen, in areas where pressures generated by skiers and snowboarders prevent slow-growing conifers from maturing.
The initial goal, Dutton said, is to treat 173 acres of woodlands on Baldy, so that the old forest dominated by two tree species becomes significantly more diverse.
"All treatments will attempt to preserve the current locations of forest areas and ski runs," Dutton said.
In addition, Dutton said, the plan calls for better management of non-forested areas on Bald Mountain.
Preventing grazing, minimizing soil disturbances and planting native shrub species would control weeds and non-native plants. Noxious weeds—including diffuse knapweed, spotted knapweed, Canada thistle and field bindweed—would also be treated with "mechanical, cultural and chemical methods," Dutton said.
In areas cleared for ski runs and other on-mountain development, Dutton said, work would be done to prevent soil erosion, maintain visual appeal and prevent the spread of noxious weeds.
As part of Sun Valley's update to the Bald Mountain Master Development Plan, the vegetation management proposal is subject to review by the public and the Forest Service before it will be considered for approval.
