All posts by nfpa

Proposed rule says current habitat ‘sufficient to conserve lynx’

Environmental Issues, News, ,

The protection of Canada Lynx continues to generate controversy — this time, over habitat designation . . .

A proposed federal rule on lynx critical habitat would assume the threatened cat doesn’t need forests it doesn’t currently use.

“The (U.S. Fish and Wildlife) Service determined that currently occupied habitat is sufficient to conserve lynx,” a statement from FWS Mountain-Prairie regional director Noreen Walsh stated last week. “Therefore, the designation does not include areas not currently occupied by lynx.

The new designation would cover 41,547 square miles in Montana, Maine, Minnesota, Idaho, Washington and Wyoming.

Read more . . .

Grizzly bears spotted along Sun River

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Providing more evidence that grizzly bears are started to repopulate the high plains, there have been a number of sightings near the Sun River, a bit west of Great Falls . . .

State wildlife officials are urging homeowners and people who hunt along the Sun River west of Great Falls that grizzly bears have been spotted in the area.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks grizzly bear management specialist Mike Madel says a bow hunter spotted two young grizzlies about a mile east of Simms on Sunday. On Wednesday, a Fort Shaw-area couple said a grizzly bear chased their dog before they scared it away.

Madel says the sighting near Fort Shaw is the farthest east confirmed sighting of a grizzly on the Sun River. The homeowners took a picture and Madel estimates the bear is 3 or 4 years old and about 300 pounds.

Read more . . .

Canada to exclude Flathead Valley from planned sale of dominion coal blocks

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

According to our friends north of the border, the Canadian federal government will not be making lands available for coal development within their section of the trans-boundary Flathead River Valley . . .

Flathead Wild, a coalition of conservation groups dedicated to protecting the Flathead Valley in the East Kootenay, welcomes the federal government’s announcement that it will exempt portions of the Dominion Coal Blocks within the Flathead Valley from a planned sale of federal lands. At the same time, the groups remain concerned that inappropriate development of the coal blocks adjacent to the Valley could jeopardize water quality and wildlife populations.

“While details around the planned sale are not yet clear, we are encouraged that the Federal Government has confirmed that portions of the coal blocks overlapping with the Flathead River Watershed will not be included in the sale, and that discussions with the Province are under way to ensure the protection of the entire watershed from development” said John Bergenske, Wildsight.

Read more . . .

Feds petitioned for Northern Rockies fisher protection

Environmental Issues, News,

Several environmental groups are worried about survival of the Northern Rockies fisher . . .

Six environmental groups petitioned the federal government Monday to enact endangered species protections for the Northern Rockies fisher, saying increased trapping in Montana and Idaho is killing more of the small, weasel-like predators.

The fisher, which lives in old-growth forests in western Montana and northern Idaho, preys on porcupines, snowshoe hares and other small animals and birds. There is no comprehensive population estimate for the predators, though environmental groups believe up to 500 may be living in the Northern Rockies.

Read more . . .

House bill mandates logging on 50 percent of available timberland

Environmental Issues, News, ,

The U.S. House passed the initial version (it’s evidently a bargaining chip) of the “Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act” Friday . . .

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act on Friday, mandating logging on 50 percent of the U.S. Forest Service’s available timberland and erecting barriers to legal challenges of timber sales.

Rep. Steve Daines, R-Mont., a co-sponsor of the legislation, said it will mean a major boost for the Montana logging industry…

Daines attached two amendments to the bill on Thursday and Friday. One would require the Forest Service to provide an annual one-page statement of revenues from timber sales to track harvest progress. The other would bar courts from issuing temporary injunctions on timber projects while they’re being challenged in court.

The Obama administration announced Wednesday it would probably veto the bill if it reached the White House in its current form. The bill also drew fire from some conservation groups.

Read more . . .

East side access to Logan Pass restricted starting September 22

News, ,

Going -to-the-Sun Road construction will pretty much close off access to locations past St. May Campground up to Logan Pass beginning Monday, September 22. Access to Logan Pass from the west side is scheduled to remain open until October 20, weather permitting. Here’s the press release . . .

The last day to access Logan Pass by vehicle from the east side of Glacier National Park will be Sunday, September 22, allowing accelerated fall season rehabilitation on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Vehicle traffic will be restricted on the east side near the St. Mary Campground beginning Monday, September 23. Vehicle access to Logan Pass will be available from the west side of the park through Sunday, October 20, weather permitting.

Fall access to east-side hiking trails between Rising Sun and Logan Pass will be limited during road rehabilitation activity beginning Monday, September 23. Hikers wanting to hike any of the trails that are accessed, or may be an exit point, along the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, are highly encouraged to contact the park at 888-7800 before departing. The trails that are affected include Siyeh Pass, Piegan Pass, Otokomi, St. Mary Falls/Barring Falls/Virginia Falls, Gunsight, Sperry, and Red Eagle Trails. For more information on status of trails and access, please contact the park or visit http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm.

Access to some backcountry campsites on the east side of the park will also be affected. All backcountry campers are required to have a permit from the park’s backcountry office for overnight stays. All backcountry permits must be obtained from the Apgar Permit Center at this time of the year. For more information on backcountry camping and trail access, please contact the park at 888-7800 or visit http://www.nps.gov/glac.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own drinking water as drinking water availability throughout the park will be limited during this time of year. Drinking water is not available at Logan Pass, but restroom facilities (new vault toilet) are. For more information contact the park at 406-888-7800.

Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance holds fall annual meeting

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Over on the other side of the Divide, the Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance is having their fall get-together this weekend. It sounds like quite a gathering . . .

Three decades ago, when oil and gas development was being discussed for the Badger-Two Medicine area, a group of citizens came together to fight it.

The group, the Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance, is still in existence today and will hold its fall gathering Saturday and Sunday near East Glacier.

Read more . . .

Flathead National Forest open house scheduled for October 3

News,

As part of the kickoff for the Forest Plan revision, the Flathead National Forest is hosting an open house October 3 . . .

The Flathead National Forest is hosting an open house on Thursday, October 3, 2013, at the Supervisor’s Office (650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT) from 5 PM to 8 PM. The event will provide an opportunity for the public to meet with Forest Service specialists working on an assessment of the Flathead National Forest, the first phase of forest plan revision.

The Flathead National Forest is embarking on a multi-year process to update its forest plan, the document that guides management of your public lands. The forest plan provides direction for managing resources and activities such as recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, vegetation and timber production. Forest plan revision is achieved in a three-phase process: assessment, revision, and monitoring. The assessment evaluates existing information about relevant ecological, economic, and social conditions and trends. It also looks at the land management plan within the context of the broader landscape. The 2012 National Forest System land management planning rule calls for an enhanced commitment to collaboration and public engagement throughout the revision process.

Read more . . .

Grizzly released in Whale Creek area

News,

Montana FWP gave a nuisance grizzly the North Fork treatment a few days ago, dropping it off somewhere up the Whale Creek drainage where, hopefully, it will stay out of trouble . . .

Wildlife officials relocated a young female grizzly bear near Whale Creek in the North Fork after the animal rummaged through food in an open vehicle, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

FWP Grizzly Bear Management Specialist Tim Manley captured the grizzly near Spotted Bear after it had gotten into food attractants. The bear was originally captured several years ago as a cub along with an adult female and a sibling near Coram after they were eating apples, according to FWP.

Read more . . .

Prescribed burn planned on Big Prairie this month

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Glacier Park plans a prescribed burn on Big Prairie sometime this month. Here’s the official press release . . .

A prescribed fire project is planned in the North Fork area of Glacier National Park, approximately four miles northwest of Polebridge. Approximately 125 acres are planned to be burned in the Big Prairie area by the end of September, depending on weather and fuel conditions.  This project was initiated this spring with approximately 150 acres successfully managed through a prescribed burn. The entire project includes about 700 acres of prairie that will be managed with prescribed fire over the next several years.

Firefighter and equipment support from the Flathead National Forest was instrumental in the success of the spring burn. It is anticipated that forest personnel will assist with the fall burn as well.

The primary objective of the burn is to reduce lodgepole pine regeneration which is encroaching on the native prairie grassland. Managers hope to remove some lodgepole with fire and improve the growth of native grasses and shrubs.

This prescribed burn will only take place if optimum weather and smoke dispersal parameters are met. For more information, contact the park at 406-888-7800.