Larry reports on the recent interlocal agreement meeting . . .
There were no surprises at this year’s interlocal agreement meeting. There was, however, a good exchange of information from both the private landowner groups and the public agencies.
Monthly Archives: February 2012
Montana DNRC, North Fork landowners to reduce fire hazard
There’s a nice bit of money in the pot for fuels reduction work this year . . .
A deal between the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the North Fork Landowners Association will keep the North Fork buzzing with chainsaws this spring in an effort to reduce flammable fuels throughout the area.
According to forester Bill Swope, nearly two-thirds of the area along the North Fork Road, between Camas Creek and the Canadian border, have been scorched by wildfire since 1988. Now much of that is regrowing and he said efforts must be made to thin underbrush, which will be the focus of a $100,000 grant from DNRC.
Glacier Park seeks comment on Quartz Lake invasive species fish barrier
Glacier Park is trying to keep non-native lake trout out of Quartz Lake . . .
Glacier National Park officials are seeking public comment on a project that would modify and improve a fish barrier designed to stem the invasion of lake trout in Quartz Lake.
Considered one of the last best strongholds for native fish in the entire Columbia River Basin, Quartz Lake’s native fish populations include bull trout, which are classified as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, as well as westslope cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish.
Native fish populations in Glacier National Park have been compromised by the invasion of non-native fish species into the park’s lakes and streams, and lake trout are being targeted as the chief culprit.
Further reading: official Glacier Park press release.
Special backcountry avalanche warning issued for Northwest Montana
Skiing or snowmobiling in the backcountry is risky business right now . . .
A special backcountry avalanche warning was issued Sunday for the mountains of Northwest Montana.
Avalanche danger is “high” for areas between 4,500 feet and 7,500 feet, according to Flathead National Forest avalanche expert Stan Bones.
Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended, according to the advisory. The warning applies to the Mission, Swan, Flathead, Lewis and Continental Divide mountain ranges.
More reading: avalanche advisory at the Flathead National Forest web site.
Lone wolf visits Kalispell Saturday morning
It seems a wolf made a post-hunting season visit to Kalispell Saturday morning . . .
Three generations of the Grande family shared a bonding experience Saturday morning when they followed a wolf through northwest Kalispell . . .
The Grandes weren’t the only people to report seeing the wolf, according to the Kalispell Police Department dispatch log.
The Kalispell wolf saga started at 10:30 a.m., when a woman reported seeing the wolf running along Windward Way, near the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Just before 11 a.m., another woman said she saw it running along the back of the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
Shortly after 11 a.m., the Grandes made their reports. The wolf was then spotted in a field between Northridge Drive and Four Mile Drive. As it exited town, deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department took up the chase and managed to film it on their dashboard cameras.
It was at that point that officers contacted Fish, Wildlife and Parks, which sent out three people with equipment to try and read the collar’s signal . . .
Kyle Johnson named NPS wilderness champion
Glacier National Park Wilderness Specialist Kyle Johnson recently received the National Park Service Intermountain Region Wilderness Champion Award. Of the local news organizations, the Hungry Horse News has the best coverage of this story . . .
When Kyle Johnson wasn’t playing sports at Columbia Falls High School, he was out in the woods hunting and fishing with his friends and family.
That passion for the woods – and its preservation – was recently recognized as he received the National Park Service Intermountain Region Wilderness Champion Award.
Johnson is Glacier National Park’s wilderness specialist. He developed and instructs the Park’s interagency wilderness training for backcountry rangers and volunteers and worked with the University of Montana to create the successful wilderness ranger internship position at the Park.
In addition, he oversees the Park’s backcountry permit program and is a leader in teaching Leave-No-Trace principles and practices. He also assists in search-and-rescue missions and other Park ranger duties.
Further reading: the official Glacier Park press release.
Superintendent discusses future challenges for Glacier National Park
Today’s Flathead Beacon has a pretty good write-up on a recent talk by Chas Cartwright, the Superintendent of Glacier National Park . . .
As the superintendent of Glacier National Park, Chas Cartwright has his eyes on the future, as well as the challenges it could hold for conservation and construction in the Crown of the Continent.
Cartwright spoke on Feb. 23 at an event hosted by the Glacier National Park Fund at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, discussing the major issues the park currently faces and how he envisions those issues playing out.
USFS officials expect improved efficiency, legal defense will speed forest work
From yesterday’s Missoulian . . .
Speeding up the pace of work on national forests should mean more wood for Montana sawmills – but it won’t mean more money for the agency, U.S. Forest Service officials said on Thursday.
That’s going to happen through a combination of more efficient project planning and better legal defenses, according to Agriculture Department Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Harris Sherman, who oversees the Forest Service. It won’t involve a lot more federal money.
Resolution of Polebridge area arson case still pending
The resolution of Kent Johnson’s arson case is still pending . . .
The case of the Polebridge man charged with setting fire to a neighbor’s yurt and outhouse in September 2010 is still pending in Flathead County District Court.
Kent Johnson initially faced a felony arson charge, with a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $50,000 fine, and a misdemeanor assault charge, with a maximum sentence of six months and a $500 fine . . .
According to a plea agreement worked out with the county attorney’s office last year, Johnson would receive a two-year deferred sentence for the felony and misdemeanor charges if he agreed to sell his house and land in Polebridge and move out of Montana within six months of the plea agreement being granted by a judge . . .
County road dust control program returns
It’s time again to sign up for the county road dust control cost-share program . . .
Once again, residents living on unpaved county roads will have a chance to participate in a cost-share program to control dust from passing vehicles.
Letters were recently sent out to residents who participated in the program over the past three years to see if they want to participate again. Newcomers seeking information on the program can call the county road department at 758-5790 or visit online at http://flathead.mt.gov/roads_bridges. Deadline to sign up is March 16.