SEELEY LAKE, Mont. - More than $3 million is on the way to Montana for forest restoration projects in the Lolo, Helena and Flathead national forests. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has confirmed that the Southwestern Crown of the Continent Restoration Project money will be spent on upgrading roads and trails, reducing noxious weeds and protecting private property from public-land wildfire hazards.



Gordy Sanders, resource manager with Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Seeley Lake, says the projects are ready to go. They were designed through the Southwestern Crown Collaborative, a group of businesses, organizations, individuals and government agencies, he explains.



"We're getting the right work done on the ground for the right reasons, while providing a wide variety of raw materials and putting a whole host of contractors to work."



Seeley says the jobs and contracts are for locals and come at a time when forest contractors and mill workers are struggling to make ends meet. Yet they are not just jobs for the sake of jobs, he points out, adding that these are well-designed projects.



"They're going to improve roads, improve fish habitat, improve wildlife habitat - and protect homes - in the Blackfoot Valley."



This is the second round of federal funding for what are called "Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration" projects. Money is also going to Idaho and Colorado.



Details about the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration projects are at www.fs.fed.us. Southwestern Crown Collaborative supporters are listed at www.swcrown.org.

