Posted on 28 June 2010.
The Forest Service says it will apply insecticides in recreation sites throughout the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest over the next few weeks.
There is a mountain pine beetle epidemic, which has heavily affected many areas throughout southwest Montana and has already impacted some individual trees within popular recreation areas.
“We’ll begin with individual tree treatments in those places that we know a large majority of Forest visitors and users will be this summer – campgrounds, day-use areas and trailheads.”
- Bruce Schuelke, Reforestation Forester
The green trees must be sprayed before the beetles fly again in mid-summer, because they lay eggs in new-found trees. The pesticide used to kill the beetles is Carbaryl, which is not safe to use near water. In areas close to water, 2”x2” packets of Verbenone or MCH are instead stapled to trees, as a way to repel bark beetles.
For the next few weeks, depending on the weather, (not windy or raining) Forest Service workers and contractors will spray Carbaryl to protect individual pine trees in these ranger districts of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest:
Dillon, 406-683-3900 in Dillon
Lemhi Pass to Jackson:
Dinner Station campground and picnic area
Reservoir Lake campground and picnic area
Sacajawea campground and picnic area
Pioneer Mt. Byway:
Maverick Ski Hill day use area
Grasshopper campground
Price Creek campground
Wise River, 406-832-3178 in Wise River
Pioneer Mt. Byway:
4th of July campground
Boulder Creek campground
Lodgepole 2 campground
Grand Vista day use area
Little Joe campground
Lupine snowpark/warming cabin
Pettengill campground
Willow campground
Lower Seymore campground
Pintler picnic area
Wisdom, 406-689-3243 in Wisdom
May Creek campground
Miner campground
Twin Lakes campground
Steel Creek campground
Mussigbrod campground
Van Houghton North campground
Van Houghton South campground
Butte, 406-494-2147 in Butte
Low Eagles Nest picnic area
Highland trailhead
Beaverdam campground
Madison, 406-682-4253 in Ennis
Cliff Point campground
Wade Lake campground
Madison campground
Mill Creek campground
Potosi campground
Jefferson, 406-287-3223 in Whitehall
Pigeon Creek campground
Toll Mountain campground
White House campground/dispersed sites
Homestake picnic area
Delmoe Lake campground
Delmoe Lake picnic area
Pintler, 406-859-3211 in Philipsburg
Orofino campground
Racetrack T2
Spring Hill campground
Spring Hill administrative cabin
Echo Lake picnic area
Cable Creek campground
Red Bridge boating site
Pebble Beach fishing access
Philipsburg Bay A campground
Philipsburg Bay B campground
Philipsburg Bay C campground
Rainbow Bay picnic area
Piney Loop A campground
Piney Loop B picnic area
Badger Bay fishing access
Flint Creek campground
East Fork campground
Spillway campground
Copper Creek campground
Moose Lake fishing access
Stony campground
Stony rental cabin
These sites will be closed during spraying and reopened the following day.
Signs will be posted at locations where work is occurring with information on the chemical used, closure period, including a potential time when the location can once again be used. Exposure of the public to Carbaryl spray, verbenone packets and MCH packets should be minimal to non-existent.
Weather will affect the spraying schedule as application will not occur on windy or rainy days, nor will it be done within 75 feet of water. Picnic tables, fire pits and restroom doors will be covered with plastic during spraying.
Further information about these activities can be obtained from the Elisa Stamm at 1820 Meadowlark Lane, Butte, MT, 59701, or by calling 406-494-2147.
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