The Helena National Forest and the Lewis & Clark National Forest have shared staff and various processes for several years. Now, the two have merged into one forest.
Bill Avey, supervisor of the new Helena – Lewis & Clark National Forest says the public will see no changes now that the merger has been formalized, and no offices will shut. The consolidation reflects a reduction in overall U.S. Forest Service personnel — a 35 percent reduction over 10 years.
“And so what we’re trying to do to keep services focused on the ground is to try to consolidate positions at upper levels, to reduce those positions at upper levels and take those cost savings and put them to district offices and field-going positions,” he said Monday.
Ranger districts in the combined forest will remain as they were. The new Helena – Lewis and Clark National Forest has more land mass than Yellowstone National Park — about 2.8 million acres.
Pieces of the forest extend from Marias Pass, at the Continental Divide south of Glacier National Park, to the Crazy Mountains south of Harlowton; and from the headwaters of the Blackfoot River, west of the Divide, to the Little Snowies south of Lewistown.
From KRTV 3 News: https://www.krtv.com/story/30882374/helena-and-lewis-clark-national-forests-complete-merger