All posts by nfpa

Funding goal reached for Canadian Flathead compensation fund

September 14, 2012Environmental Issues, NewsBritish Columbia, memorandum of understanding, Nature Conservancy Canada, The Nature Conservancy, Trans-boundary Flathead, Warburg Pincusnfpa

It looks like the funding goal for money to compensate companies for losses when the Canadian Flathead was closed to development has been reached . . .

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (“NCC”) and The Nature Conservancy (“TNC”) today announced that, through a collaboration of public and private partners, more than $10 million has been raised to help remove the biggest ecological threat to British Columbia’s Flathead River Valley — a spectacular wilderness area that straddles the Canada-U.S. border.

Thanks to the generous funding contributions from the Government of Canada’s Natural Areas Conservation Program (NACP); Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing; and other private donors, the Canadian portion of the Flathead River Valley is now permanently protected from mining and other sub-surface development.

The Government of Canada contributed $5.4 million to the project through the NACP for the conservation of the Flathead River Valley. Warburg Pincus is contributing $2.5 million to the project–the largest private contribution.

The funding is being used by the British Columbia government to implement the Flathead Watershed Area Conservation Act, which was passed last year. The legislation permanently prohibits coal mining as well as exploration and development of oil, gas and mineral resources on nearly 400,000 acres (160,000 hectares) of land in southeast British Columbia.

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Larry Wilson: North Fork fall activities slated

September 14, 2012Commentary, Newsfall activities, Larry Wilson, NFLAnfpa

Larry discusses upcoming fall North Fork activities . . .

The ground squirrels have withdrawn to their winter quarters, there’s fresh snow on the mountains in Glacier Park, and the lone quaking aspen in my meadow is nearly one-third bright yellow. Also, orange paint is being sprayed on trees up and down the road. There are even a few folks with blackened faces and camo clothing, armed with bows and arrows, creeping around in the woods.

Due to freezing nights and cooler days, I’m starting to take wood out of the woodshed to warm the cabin. A heavy rain this week probably ended the risk of a major North Fork wildfire until next summer. Sure signs of fall.

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Environmental coalition to sue over Wyoming wolf delisting

September 10, 2012Environmental Issues, NewsEndangered Species List, wolf hunt, Wyomingnfpa

As expected, a coalition of environmental groups intends to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the removal of federal protection for wolves in Wyoming . . .

A coalition of environmental groups has filed notice that they intend to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s decision to end federal protections for wolves in Wyoming.

WildEarth Guardians and other groups announced Monday that they have filed a notice of intent to sue the federal agency.

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Avalanche Lake Trail reopened in Glacier Park

September 7, 2012Fire Information and Status, NewsAvalanche Wildland Fire, Glacier National Parknfpa

Fire crews and cooperative weather have knocked down the Avalanche Wildland Fire and Glacier Park’s Avalanche Lake trail has been reopened. Here is the official press release . . .

The Avalanche Lake Trail is open. The trail was recently closed due to the Avalanche Wildland Fire.

Fire activity remains minimal on the Avalanche Wildland Fire due to suppression actions and recent moisture and cooler temperatures. The fire area is located on Mount Brown near Avalanche Lake on the west side of the park. The fire area will continue to be monitored and additional suppression activities will be implemented as appropriate. Some smoke may be visible from locations within the park. The fire area is closed to the public.

For additional park information, please visit Glacier National Park’s website at www.nps.gov/glac or call park headquarters at 406-888-7800.

Griz relocated to Coal Creek meets its end near Whitefish

September 6, 2012Environmental Issues, Newsbear relocation, grizzly bear, KM Ranch Road, nuisance bears, Tim Manley, Whitefishnfpa

Another case of “a fed bear is a dead bear”: The grizzly bear that was relocated to the Coal Creek area in July and soon became a nuisance near Whitefish, has been put down by Montana FWP…

Wildlife officials euthanized a male grizzly bear that was rummaging through food sources near residences outside of Whitefish, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced Thursday.

FWP officials captured the 238-pound subadult male grizzly Wednesday along the Stillwater River, southwest of Whitefish near the KM Ranch Road. The bear had been moved in July from the Lincoln area into the Coal Creek Drainage of the Whitefish Range north of Columbia Falls. Over the course of a month, it crossed the Whitefish Divide and traveled along the Stillwater River between Lupfer Meadows and Lost Creek. FWP said it received numerous reports of the bear getting into livestock feed, pet food, garbage, bird feeders and apples.

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Larry Wilson: Whitefish Range challenge accepted

September 6, 2012Commentary, Environmental Issues, NewsFrank Vitale, Larry Wilson, North Fork Landowners’ Association, North Fork Preservation Association, North Fork Road, Thompson-Setonnfpa

Larry accepts the Mount Thompson-Seton challenge and discusses the end-of-season wind-down . . .

I thoroughly enjoyed the letter last week from fellow North Forker Frank Vitale. I consider him as well as the North Fork Preservation Association a “moderate” environmentalist.

Since there seems to be some confusion about the definition of moderate, let me refer you to the dictionary…

If Frank is willing to take this old fat guy to Mount Thompson-Seton and, most importantly, back out, I accept. I suspect there is much that he and I will agree on even if we don’t agree about the specifics of a wilderness. I hope others will join us.

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Bow hunter takes North Fork wolf

September 6, 2012Environmental Issues, Newsbow season, North Fork Flathead, wolf hunt, wolf quotasnfpa

A hunter took a wolf at the beginning of bow season, closing the North Fork wolf hunt until gun season opens . . .

An elk hunter with a wolf license shot a wolf on the fourth day of archery season just west of the Whitefish Divide, prompting Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to close the North Fork Flathead’s wolf management Unit 110.

It is the only hunting district in the state that retains a quota for wolves.

Only two can be harvested per year in the district, which covers the North Fork west of Glacier National and extends over the Whitefish Divide into Lincoln County.

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Cold front may help firefighting efforts in Glacier Park

September 5, 2012Fire Information and Status, NewsAvalanche Wildland Fire, Glacier National Parknfpa

An incoming cold front should aid firefighting efforts in Glacier Park . . .

Crews are successfully containing a wildfire burning near Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park and an incoming cold front could further calm the blaze.

The lightning-caused fire is now being estimated at 70 acres, due to more accurate mapping and not recent fire growth. The Avalanche Lake Trail remains closed until further notice.

A heavy-lift helicopter continued aerial water drops on the fire Wednesday while 25 firefighters and eight smoke jumpers worked to secure containment line on the west and north sides of the fire.

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Area fire activity easing off

September 5, 2012Fire Information and Status, NewsAvalanche Wildland Fire, Blacktail Ridge Fire, wildfire informationnfpa

Wildfire activity in this corner of Montana is easing off, not that anyone is complaining . . .

Burning activity was limited Tuesday on the Blacktail Ridge Fire near Plains, and the Avalanche Lake Trail remains closed in Glacier National Park due to a small fire nearby.

“Really we haven’t seen much fire growth today,” said Jennifer Costich, a fire information officer assigned to the Blacktail Ridge Fire, which has burned about 250 acres two air miles south of Plains…

In Glacier Park, firefighters have held the Avalanche Wildland Fire on Mount Brown to about 45 acres since it was detected last Saturday.

More than 30 people are working on the fire, including eight smokejumpers, along with helicopter support…

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Avalanche Fire estimate bumped to 45 acres

September 3, 2012Fire Information and Status, NewsAvalanche Wildland Fire, Glacier National Parknfpa

Looks like Glacier Park is making good progress controlling the Avalanche Fire . . .

The current size estimate of the Avalanche Wildland Fire in Glacier National Park is approximately 45 acres. This size estimate is due to more accurate mapping of the fire, not fire growth, park officials said Monday afternoon.

The wildland fire is located on Mount Brown, near Avalanche Lake on the west side of Glacier National Park. The Avalanche Lake Trail is closed until further notice.

Aerial water drops have been effective in suppressing the fire, along with about 25 fire firefighters constructing fireline.

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