MISSOULA — Hikers in Maclay Flat have become used to the many trees along the trail they use, but after many of them were recently cut down, people became concerned that too many were removed.
These particular ponderosa pine trees, Montana’s state tree, ran along an irrigation ditch on the Maclay Flat Nature Trail.
A frequent hiker, Libby Langston, said it was devastating to see them cut down along the trail.
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“I came along here the other day and was absolutely flabbergasted,” Langston said, “about all these ponderosa pines, the Montana state tree, that were cut down and their perfectly healthy trees.”
MTN learned from the Lolo National Forest that some of the trees were damaged during the July 2024 wind storm.
The removal of the trees along the irrigation line was part of scheduled maintenance with the Big Flat Irrigation District in Missoula.
Residents like Langston were unaware of the removal.
“There was no communication with the public to talk about it at all and I know that a lot of people are upset about it just as I am,” Langston said.
This irrigation service runs before the operational period, which begins in May and ends in early October, and irrigates over 150 sites.
The Big Flat Irrigation District is authorized to maintain a 55-foot right of way from the ditch centerline to uphold water rights and infrastructure as per Bureau of Reclamation regulations.
They said this clean-up is preventative, and these particular ponderosas would block the canal, which they say could cause unsafe debris to build up later in the season, as many were knocked over.
The Lolo National Forest is working to improve the trail's appearance to allow the community to continue enjoying the walking path safely.
