Protect Jardine's Forests

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing a 3,000-acre commercial logging project in the forests surrounding Jardine, Montana — on the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park.

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What Is Being Proposed?

The Custer Gallatin National Forest's Gardiner Ranger District has proposed the Bear Palmer Timber Treatment, a large-scale commercial logging project covering approximately 3,000 acres in the drainages around Jardine, MT — including Eagle Creek, Bear Creek, and Crevice Mountain.

The project is being advanced under an Environmental Assessment (EA), a level of NEPA review that evaluates environmental impacts but does not require the full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that projects of this scale may warrant. The stated goals are "forest restoration" and reducing fire risk, but community members have serious questions about whether commercial clear-cutting achieves those goals.

At a public meeting on January 14, 2026, the USFS presented updated treatment maps showing that most areas previously marked for non-commercial treatment have been reclassified as commercial harvest zones. This shift has heightened community concern.

3,000
Acres of proposed logging
EA
Environmental Assessment — may not require full EIS review
~100
Community members attended the Jan. 14 public meeting

Proposed Treatment Map

This preliminary USFS map shows the Bear Palmer project area.  Orange hatched areas indicate commercial harvest zones;  green areas indicate non-commercial treatments. Click the map to zoom in and explore.

USFS Bear Palmer Proposed Treatment Map - Custer Gallatin National Forest, Gardiner Ranger District
Click to zoom · Drag to pan

Source: USDA Forest Service, Custer Gallatin National Forest, Gardiner Ranger District — Bear Palmer Draft Proposed Action

Our Concerns

Residents and community members have raised significant concerns across four key areas. These are drawn from a formal response submitted to the USFS Gardiner District following the January 2026 public meeting.

Healthy Forests

We understand our forests face disease from pine beetle and spruce budworm, worsened by a changing climate. But clear-cutting large areas does not improve forest health — it removes the forest entirely, failing to distinguish between weaker trees and those that may be more resistant and resilient.

  • Clear cuts leave thin, evenly spaced trees that fall in the first windstorm, lacking root structure and protection.
  • The dry Jardine landscape cannot heal as it once did — removing trees brings invasive species, dries the forest floor, and reduces habitat.
  • Large old-growth trees are irreplaceable for carbon sequestration and ecosystem diversity.
  • If this is truly for forest health, treatments should mimic natural processes: groups of mixed-age trees, sculpted edges, and diverse understory — not industrial clear cuts.

Wildland Fire

Reducing fire risk is cited as a primary justification, but the science doesn't support the approach being proposed.

  • Many proposed treatment areas have been logged or burned before and are just starting to mature. Logging resets the cycle every 30–50 years.
  • In today's hotter, drier climate, large wind-driven fires burn through dense forests, thin forests, and clearings alike.
  • A patchwork of clear cuts on steep slopes miles from structures does little to protect Jardine's homes.
  • Targeted fire breaks closer to structures would be far more effective than random clearings on remote hillsides.

Treatment Methods & Oversight

Most areas originally marked for non-commercial treatment have been reclassified as commercial harvest, contradicting the stated intent of "forest restoration."

  • Lodgepole pine naturally grows in dense stands and relies on fire to regenerate — it's targeted because it produces ideal timber, not because cutting improves health.
  • Mature Douglas Fir develops thick bark resistant to fire — why not let them mature for natural resilience?
  • The Forest Service has a poor track record on reclamation, revegetation, and invasive species management due to understaffing and budget cuts.
  • Contractors often exploit lack of oversight to maximize profit at the expense of the land.

Recreation & Community

Eagle Creek, Bear Creek, and Crevice Mountain are beloved recreation areas for Gardiner, Mammoth, and Jardine residents — the same areas targeted for logging.

  • These forests are the primary recreation destination for locals who can't take dogs on Yellowstone trails.
  • The area's greatest value has shifted from industry to recreation and community well-being.
  • The land is still healing from historic mining damage — much of which the current forest cover is hiding.
  • NEPA must also address wildlife habitat, noise, dust, and impacts on the Jardine Road.
“It is not a pristine, stunning place; it is scarred and damaged with a checkered past, but it is a great place for our community to hide out on the edge of Yellowstone, free of the crowds and madness a few miles away. It’s a place to relax, enjoy nature, see our friends, and find peace.”
— From the community response to USFS, January 2026

Where Things Stand

Pre-NEPA Planning Phase

The USFS is currently in the early stages of determining treatments. The formal NEPA environmental review process has not yet begun, which means there is still time to influence the direction of this project.

January 14, 2026 — Public Meeting

The Gardiner District held a public meeting presenting updated treatment maps, tree survey results confirming significant disease, and proposed treatment methods. Nearly 100 community members attended.

Community Response Submitted

The Bear Creek Council submitted a formal response outlining concerns about forest health claims, fire risk justifications, treatment methods, recreation impacts, and the shift toward commercial harvesting.

Upcoming: Public Comment Period

When the NEPA process begins, there will be an official public comment period. Your voice matters. Check back here for updates on when and how to submit comments.

Get Involved

This project is still in early planning stages. Community engagement now can shape the outcome. Here's how you can help.

Stay Informed

Bookmark this site and check back regularly. We'll post updates on the NEPA process, public comment deadlines, and community meetings as they are announced.

Attend Meetings

Show up to public meetings held by the USFS Gardiner District. Community turnout sends a strong message. The January meeting drew nearly 100 people — let's keep that momentum going.

Submit Comments

When the formal comment period opens, submit your concerns in writing. Comments from local residents carry significant weight in the NEPA process. We'll provide guidance and templates when the time comes.

Spread the Word

Share this website with your neighbors in Gardiner, Jardine, Mammoth, and the surrounding area. The more voices the Forest Service hears, the harder it is to ignore community concerns.

Contact the Gardiner Ranger District

Custer Gallatin National Forest — Gardiner Ranger District

P.O. Box 5, Gardiner, MT 59030

Phone: (406) 848-7375