Work continues on City and Forest Service lands, Sourdough Canyon Trail and project area remain closed

Work is continuing to progress on the Bozeman Municipal Watershed Project! A huge THANK YOU to all the community members who are so patiently observing the closures and practicing kindness if they find themselves at a closed trailhead.

Work along the Sourdough/Bozeman Trail area on City Property

The Sourdough Trail and project area closed has been closed since October 11th and will remain closed for the entire four weeks as planned. While weather has made for tricky conditions, we are excited to say that the Sourdough Trail will reopen to the public on November 9th, right on time!

Moisture from earlier this month has made an impact on the road conditions but crews continue to haul timber out of the project area safely while minimizing impacts to resources. The Phase 2 work – helicopter operations – is ongoing and logs are being flown over the trail, processed, and hauled.

What Happens When the Sourdough Trail Opens on November 9?

Helicopter operations will continue west of the trail to fly logs for processing and decking near the City’s water supply intake approximately half a mile from the trailhead. Trail users will need to expect continuous flight traffic during daylight hours, occasional light duty vehicle traffic between the intake and trailhead, and impacts to the trail surface.

At a date in the future a short, 3 day public trail closure will occur to haul the processed logs out, demobilize equipment, and rehabilitate the trail. This last part is extra important as the road has been impacted by the vehicle traffic of our logging trucks! Our goal is to have the road in better condition than when we started.

Work on Forest Service Lands adjacent to City Property

In conjunction with the City of Bozeman, the Forest Service is conducting logging and hauling work along Bozeman Creek. The section of Forest Service trail from the south boundary of the City’s closure is also closed for work, and continues south to the junction of the Moser Cutoff Trail.

Respect the Closure, Stay Safe!

As you can tell, there is a lot happening for this project with crews working, a helicopter flying, and trucks hauling. The closure is in place and it is critical that folks respect the closure to keep themselves and all others safe. Safety is our TOP PRIORITY.

Keep Spreading the Word!

Though the closure has been in place for about two weeks, there are still folks who are arriving at the Sourdough Trail parking lot only to find that (sadly) it is closed. Keep sharing information with your community to reduce the number of accidental trips out to an inaccessible area!

• The Sourdough/Bozeman Creek Trail (from the Sourdough Trailhead to the junction of Moser Cutoff Trail) and surrounding area CLOSED on OCTOBER 11th and will remain closed for the whole four weeks.
• Area users who enter the public lands near the project area will not be able to exit through the trail and project area, and should plan for alternate routes to return.
• Crews will be removing trees from the project area using a helicopter and will be flying the fuels overhead, causing a serious safety concern. Members of the public are expected to abide by the closure and watch for signage.
• Public health and safety are a TOP priority. Respect the closure.
• ­­­The Sourdough Trail will reopen to the public on November 9. Once the trail is reopened helicopter operations will continue west of the trail to fly logs for processing and decking near the City’s water supply intake approximately half a mile from the trailhead. Trail users will need to expect continuous flight traffic during daylight hours, occasional light duty vehicle traffic between the intake and trailhead, and impacts to the trail surface. Trail users should expect continuous flight traffic during daylight hours, occasional light duty vehicle traffic between the intake and trailhead, and impacts to the trail surface. At a date in the future a short, 3 day public trail closure will occur to haul the processed logs out, demobilize equipment, and rehabilitate the trail.
• Bozeman and our surrounding landscape is full of beautiful trails and alternative spaces for adventure. Check out a new place or visit a familiar trail you haven’t been to in a while. Thank you!

The Hyalite and Bozeman Creek drainages provide over 80% of the municipal water supply for the Bozeman community. Goals of the BMWP are to reduce the risk of severe and extensive wildfire, limit the amount of sediment and ash entering the water treatment facilities in the event of a fire, and increase public and firefighter safety while reducing risk of wildfire spread onto National Forest lands and bordering private lands.

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