Deer Point Stewardship Project

The Boise National Forest is entering the second year of the four-year Deer Point Stewardship Project, a proactive forest management effort focused on improving forest health and reducing wildfire risk near the Bogus Basin recreation area.

The project uses targeted thinning to remove dead, diseased, and overcrowded trees while preserving healthy, fire-resilient species such as ponderosa pine. According to forest officials, the work is designed to strengthen the forest’s ability to withstand future wildfire events while protecting nearby homes, critical infrastructure, recreation assets, and telecommunications sites.

“This is about thinning out the woods that will make it more resistant and resilient to wildfire,” said Michael Williamson of the Boise National Forest.

The project area includes heavily used recreation corridors near Pat’s Trail and Freddy’s Stack Rock Trail, where forest crews identified numerous dead and downed trees requiring treatment. Temporary weekday trail and road closures are being implemented to allow logging operations to be completed safely and efficiently.

Forest managers emphasized the importance of public cooperation during active operations after multiple safety incidents occurred during the first year of the project involving recreationists entering active logging zones.

The Deer Point Stewardship Project demonstrates how collaborative forest restoration efforts can reduce hazardous fuels, improve ecosystem resilience, and help protect communities and recreation infrastructure in Idaho’s forests.