All posts by nfpa

Heaven’s Peak restoration raises concerns

Environmental Issues, News,

This sounds like one of those awkward debates between two groups of well-meaning people . . .

Glacier National Park’s plan to stabilize the remote Heaven’s Peak Lookout has sparked a lively debate over appropriate uses in wilderness. But unlike other public debates over the years, this one is, in part, between current and former employees of the Park Service.

The lookout was built in 1945 by conscientious objectors during World War II and one of the last remaining structures built by members of the Civilian Public Service.

For that reason, Glacier officials claim the lookout deserves preservation, whether it’s in wilderness or not.

Continue reading . . .

County still has openings in road dust program; deadline is March 21

News,

It’s that time again. Folks wishing to participate in Flathead County’s road dust control program have until Monday, March 21 to apply . . .

Flathead County residents still have an opportunity to participate in a cost-share program related to dust control on county-maintained gravel roads.

Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty and Flathead County Road and Bridge Supervisor Ovila Byrd said the deadline to apply for the dust control program now is 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 21.

People can split the cost with the county to have magnesium chloride applied to roads at their properties, Prunty said.

Residents must sign up for a minimum stretch of a half-mile of roadway.

People have a few options in how they apply, Prunty said. They may call the Road Department at 758-5790, drop by the office or visit the county’s website under the road department tab where an application is available under the forms section.

Continue reading . . .

Grizzly’s threatened status appealed in Oregon court

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

From today’s Flathead Beacon . . .

Dueling attorneys for a conservation group and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offered starkly different opinions Monday about the future of the grizzly bear population in and around Yellowstone National Park, if the bear is taken off the threatened species list.

Continue reading . . .

Wolves find few friends among Montana lawmakers in 2011 legislature

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Lots of (ahem) howling about wolves in this year’s session of the Montana legislature . . .

As the Montana Legislature moves into the second half of the session the gray wolf is proving to be one creature with few friends in the Capitol.

Lawmakers are advancing a slate of bills that call for decreasing protections for wolves, while Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer encouraged killing the animals last month in defiance of the federal Endangered Species Act.

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Amy Secrest: On the North Fork, it’s a dog’s life

Commentary, , , ,

Amy Secrest is standing in for Larry Wilson in this week’s Hungry Horse News column. She does a very nice job of it, too.

Here’s the lead-in. Read the rest at the HHN . . .

At the New Year’s Eve party at Sondreson Hall, Larry Wilson asked me to write this week’s column.

The next day, after a night of dancing and celebration and an epic holiday season filled with family and friends and more blessings than I can count, I was skiing the riverbank with our dog Rio, an 80-pound yellow lab mix. I reflected on the year before and wondered on the year ahead while Rio, ever eager to go where I go, post-holed through chest-deep snow behind me. When I’d stop to marvel at the sunlit winterscape and ponder on whether new snow would make for an interesting newspaper column, Rio would interrupt my musings and insist on snowballs. It’s his favorite winter game. . .

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Wacky wildlife bills progress through Montana legislature

Environmental Issues, News,

From this week’s Hungry Horse News . . .

Hunters just might be able to use a spear next season if a law that makes them legal holds up. The Senate passed a bill by a 27-21 vote in January that would make a spear a legal weapon.

Senate Bill 112, sponsored by Sanders County Republican Greg Hinkle, is now being considered by the House. It’s just one of the many fish and game laws that are under consideration by the Legislature this year.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer has openly made fun of the bill and has promised he’ll veto it.

But spear chucking isn’t the only thing in lawmakers sights. They’d also like to nullify the Endangered Species Act. . .

Continue reading . . .

Tester amends federal budget bill to declare wolves recovered in Montana and Idaho

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

From today’s Missoulian . . .

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., has inserted language into the Senate’s Continuing Resolution – the bill that funds the entire national budget – declaring the gray wolf a recovered species in Montana and Idaho.

The $1.077 trillion, seven-month spending bill is expected to reach a full Senate vote on Tuesday, and then return to the House of Representatives.

Continue reading . . .

“Wild Places” needs cookies

News,

According to a note from Dave Hadden of Headwaters Montana, the Third Annual Wild Places Photo Exhibition needs cookies . . .

We need cookies and other treats to sell at the “Wild Places” photo exhibition on March 11 in Whitefish as part of our fundraising effort to continue the Work! Please call Meg Wolfe if you can bake a plate of cookies or other treats.

Meg’s contact: lullwolfe@msn.com or 863-9501.

Thanks for your help in making Wild Places a success.  See you there!

Legislation, more agreements still needed to ensure protection of Flathead region

Environmental Issues, News, , , , , , ,

This well-written, well-researched article by Rob Chaney of the Missoulian is recommended reading for anyone interested in the challenges still to come in protecting the Trans-boundary Flathead . . .

Now that the trans-boundary conference calls and Washington, D.C., hand-shaking sessions are over, a lot remains to finish in protecting the Flathead River between British Columbia and Montana.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s Valentine’s Day announcement that two conservation groups were providing $9.4 million to buy out mining claims on the Canadian side of the Flathead didn’t include all the details of the deal. One significant omission was that while the U.S.-based Nature Conservancy is raising its half of the money through private donations, the Nature Conservancy of Canada is dipping into a $225 million Canadian government fund for its contribution.

Continue reading . . .