All posts by nfpa

Flathead Forest Plan proposal due March 6

News, ,

One of the major items announced at the recent North Fork Interlocal meeting was the impending first public release of the proposed revision to the Flathead Forest plan on March 6. This will be followed by a public meeting on March 17 . . .

The Flathead National Forest is expected to release the proposed action for a new Forest Plan early next month.

The target date for publication is March 6, Forest officials told North Fork residents last week during a North Fork Interlocal Agreement meeting.

The first public meeting on the Forest Plan is scheduled for March 17 in Kalispell. Forest officials will take public comments for 45 days and then release a draft document with different alternatives in 2015. The final plan is expected to be completed in late 2016.

Read more . . .

Winter Interlocal covers a lot of territory

News,

The Winter North Fork Interlocal meeting was held February 11 at Glacier Park’s Community Hall. There were at least 31 North Forkers present and good representation from the various government agencies.

The Interlocal Agreement provides for face-to-face contact with representatives of agencies whose policies and actions affect the North Fork. Interlocal Agreement meetings are held in the winter (in town) and summer (at Sondreson Hall).

This is always a very interesting meeting, with reports from a range of government agencies and local organizations and often some quite vigorous discussion. This meeting was no exception.

Here are links to a number of articles discussing the Interlocal meeting . . .

Model quantifies meltwater contribution from Glacier Park’s glaciers

Environmental Issues, News,

A recent study puts some hard numbers on the amount of meltwater contributed by the glaciers in Glacier National Park . . .

A recent study to be published in the University of Colorado’s Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research journal quantifies for the first time the amount of meltwater from Glacier National Park’s glaciers.

The peer-reviewed scientific study presents a model quantifying the contribution of the Park’s 39 named glaciers to local watersheds. Total glacial coverage in the Park has declined by 35 percent over the last half-century as an increasingly warm atmosphere outpaces the rate at which new precipitation allows glaciers to grow.

The research effort began about five years ago with Whitefish native Adam Clark’s graduate thesis at the University of Montana Geosciences Department, where he studied under another one of the study’s coauthors, Joel Harper. Clark now works for the U.S. Geological Service’s Northern Rocky Mountains Science Center with Dan Fagre, the other co-author of the study.

Read more . . .

Rally for public lands packs Capitol Rotunda

News, ,

Last Monday’s rally to support public lands was quite successful, with plenty of supporters willing to make the trip to Helena and quite a few speakers, including Governor Steve Bullock.

This article from the Missoulian even includes video . . .

A packed Capitol rotunda on Monday became the latest battleground over transferring of federal lands to state ownership with hundreds rallying in opposition to the plan.

Opponents to the transfer blasted the idea as a political stunt and waste of resources while about a dozen transfer supporters held up signs and handed out literature…

Read more . . .

Feds may restore grizzlies to North Cascades

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

Looks like Washington’s Cascade Range may be getting some grizzly bears . . .

A tentative federal proposal to restore grizzly bears in the North Cascades will be explained at public meetings next month.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service are taking public comments for an environmental impact statement before deciding whether to take an active role in restoring the grizzly bear to the North Cascades Ecosystem…

The North Cascades ecosystem encompasses 9,800 square miles in the United States and another 3,800 square miles in British Columbia. The United States portion includes North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan national recreation areas plus the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie national forests.

Read more . . .

Le Grizz race informational meeting, Feb 26

News,

There’s an informational meeting at the Merc at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 26 to talk about this fall’s Le Grizz ultra-marathon.

Here’s the meeting announcement from their flyer . . .

 

Le Grizz Informational Meeting
Thursday February 26, 2015
Polebridge Mercantile
10AM
Please join us at the Mercantile for some coffee to talk about and comment on what’s happening with this year’s Le Grizz Ultra-Marathon up the North Fork

What we know:
The Le Grizz will occur up the North Fork
The race will be in early October
100% of Race Proceeds to be donated back to the community

What we don’t know:
The exact course
We have not obtained a Forest Service permit yet
Exact date
Number of participants

Email: runlegrizz@gmail.com

Reminder: Rally for public lands in Helena at noon, Feb. 16

Environmental Issues
President's Day Public Land Rally
President’s Day Public Land Rally

Reminder: Attend the Public Land Rally in Helena this Monday, February 16, at High Noon!

Guest speakers:
Governor Steve Bullock
David Allen, President and CEO, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Mary Sexton, former Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Director
Adrienne Marx, Montana Wilderness Association council member
Randy Newberg, host of the popular cable television show “Fresh Tracks with Randy Newberg.”

Can you make it?  Will you make it?

If you live in the Flathead Valley there’s a van leaving Kalispell at 8:00am.  Call 406-730-2006 for info. First come, first serve.

If you live in another town, click here for other bus/car pooling opportunities.

Why is this important:  The Transfer of Public Lands is a hot button issue this legislative session. Powerful out of state interests are wooing our legislators to pursue a dangerous and economically disastrous path that would lead to excessive litigation and ultimately, if successful – less access and more taxes for Montanans. That’s why we’re heading to Helena to fight back and make sure that the Legislature understands loud and clear that our public lands are not a toy for politicians to play with.

Can’t make it? Sign the petition!

Serious money being spent on sage grouse conservation

Environmental Issues, News,

Everyone knows to take government budget numbers with a grain of salt, right? Still, this overview of the money being directed towards sage grouse conservation is pretty interesting . . .

Spending on a government-sponsored initiative to help struggling sage grouse populations in the West is projected to exceed $750 million by 2018.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Thursday the money will conserve an estimated 8 million acres of sage grouse habitat. Federal officials are more than halfway to that goal since starting the Sage Grouse Initiative in 2010.

The chicken-sized birds are found in 11 Western states. They’re being considered for federal protections after their numbers plummeted in recent decades.

Read more . . .

Wildlife talk by Doug Chadwick, Feb 22

News,

From our friends at the NF News website . . .

Wildlife biologist and local author Doug Chadwick will speak of his experiences exploring ecosystems from Siberia to the Congo, and Canada to Northwest Montana at the Museum at Central School, 124 Second Avenue East in Kalispell, on Sunday, Feb. 22, starting at 2:30 p.m. Chadwick received a master’s in wildlife biology from the University of Montana. He is the author of 11 books and produced hundreds of articles for publications for National Geographic, Reader’s Digest and the New York Times Review of Books. Tickets are $9 available at the museum or at the door. For more information, call 756-8381.