05-23-2008, 11:10 AM
Many of the trees that were removed were near the park's roadways, picnic areas and campground, where visitor safety is a top concern. Beetle-killed trees can be a safety hazard because they are more susceptible to fire, and their weakened condition makes them more prone to falling over or loosing limbs and branches.
<br>"We identified parts of the park with the greatest levels of beetle damage and the most visitor use and focused our thinning efforts there," said Lee Bastian, Montanan Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 2 Parks Manager. "We'll be replanting most of the thinned areas, but visitors should expect a park that looks quite a bit different from what they remember."<br>
<br>Thinning the trees also helps to make the remaining trees less stressed and prone to pine beetle attack. Pine beetles damage a layer of the tree underneath the bark, eventually killing the trees by cutting off the flow of water and nutrients.<br>
<br>Many of the trees were salvaged for lumber.<br>
<br>Clean-up efforts from the project should be completed by early summer, and then the thinned areas will be replanted with Engelman Spruce and Douglas Fir.<br>
<br>The park is slated to open Friday, May 23. The opening is several weeks behind the normal May 1 opener due to snow that persisted on park roads and campgrounds into early May.
<br>"We identified parts of the park with the greatest levels of beetle damage and the most visitor use and focused our thinning efforts there," said Lee Bastian, Montanan Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 2 Parks Manager. "We'll be replanting most of the thinned areas, but visitors should expect a park that looks quite a bit different from what they remember."<br>
<br>Thinning the trees also helps to make the remaining trees less stressed and prone to pine beetle attack. Pine beetles damage a layer of the tree underneath the bark, eventually killing the trees by cutting off the flow of water and nutrients.<br>
<br>Many of the trees were salvaged for lumber.<br>
<br>Clean-up efforts from the project should be completed by early summer, and then the thinned areas will be replanted with Engelman Spruce and Douglas Fir.<br>
<br>The park is slated to open Friday, May 23. The opening is several weeks behind the normal May 1 opener due to snow that persisted on park roads and campgrounds into early May.