BOISE, Idaho — The logging of 2,000 acres of dead and dying trees on state lands in central Idaho is underway.
The Idaho Department of Lands is working to contain a major Douglas-fir tussock moth infestation.
The outbreak is in the Packer John State Forest to the east of Highway 55 between Banks and Smiths Ferry.
Trucks loaded with damaged trees are now making their way to area sawmills.
"Leaving the dead trees standing there, they will decompose, fall over roads, and present other safety hazards," said Carol Ross, Forest Service representative for the Boise National Forest. "We are mitigating those future hazards now and recovering some of the timber value at the same time."
"These efforts have already resulted in a healthier forest," said Chris Clark, Lands Resource Specialist with the Idaho Department of Lands. "The landscape is green, instead of darkened by dead trees."
Officials say salvage timber harvests reduce the fire risk, addresses safety concerns to the recreating public, and clears the way to plant trees that are less preferred by tussock moth.
The salvage sales will bring in nearly $3 million. The money will be used for reforestation and help fund public schools in Idaho.
Most of the logging will take place until the snowfall makes the conditions too difficult to remove the trees.
Once the salvage operations are complete, the land will be planted with a variety of tree species (ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce and western larch) to make the forest less susceptible to this type of infestation in the future.