The Nez Perce­Clearwater National Forest announced two logging projects near Elk City that are anticipated to begin next spring.

The agency said in a news release Friday it approved the Dixie-Comstock Community Protection and Twentymile projects to protect fire-prone areas located within the boundaries of the nationally designated Lower Salmon River Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscape.

The logging projects, according to the news release, are an integral component of the forest’s approach to the wildfire crisis. The agency’s decision authorizes 2,200 acres of strategic lumber harvest and 6,800 acres of landscape burning, creation of fire breaks, and removal of dying and dead trees along roads and trails to reduce combustible fuels.

The agency said in the news release insect- and disease-resistant trees will be planted to promote forest resiliency.

The Dixie Comstock Community Protection project is located about 20 miles south of Elk City in areas surrounding the towns of Dixie and 648 acres of private inholdings, according to the news release. Over the years the area has experienced frequent, large wildfires including the Rattlesnake in 2007, Sheep in 2012, Blue in 2015 and the 2021 Dixie fires.

Approximately 15,000 acres of forest land located 16 miles southwest of Elk City was identified in the news release for the Twentymile project. Small communities like Orogrande, Newsome and Golden are within the area.

Both logging projects received an “Emergency Action Determination,” which the agency said in the news release recognizes the need to reduce hazardous fuels and protects communities from wildfire. The determination will expedite analysis and implementation of the plans.

Additionally, around 36 miles of roads will be maintained, 11 miles of temporary roads will be built and two culverts will be replaced from the projects, according to the news release. The work will provide a secondary ingress and egress route for firefighters and the public from the Sourdough or Tenmile Creek areas if they are threatened by wildfire.

Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com.