Oh, boy. This item posted to today’s Flathead Beacon is going to trigger some debate and, one hopes, further investigation . . .
Swaths of forests killed by mountain pine beetles may not be as prone to massive fires as many previously assumed, a conclusion drawn by researchers from the University of Wisconsin and Yellowstone National Park.
The Flathead Beacon has a nice overview of all the late-season bear activity — not to mention a handy one-sentence definition of “hyperphagia” . . .
As the weather begins to cool for fall’s arrival, Flathead Valley residents may notice a heightened amount of bear activity in the lower basins as the animals continue packing away calories before hibernation.
For those of you not wishing to wade through multi-megabytes of material, today’s Daily Inter Lake has a good summary of the findings of the recently completed North Fork Flathead Road Corridor Study . . .
Only additional grading and stabilization treatments for the North Fork Road have broad public support, according to a recently completed study of the road corridor.
The North Fork Flathead Road Corridor Study does not recommend a specific project for the road, but instead focuses on improvement options.
This week’s Hungry Horse News columnists give the North Fork a fair bit of ink. “Her N. Fork” by Carol Vuchetich discusses the experience and responsibilities of living on the North Fork. Larry Wilson’s “North Fork Views” is a nice end-of-summer piece, ruminating on a quiet fire season and the big uptick in bear sightings. And G. George Ostrom even gives the North Fork (and Larry Wilson) a mention as he talks about Lynx, past and present.
The final North Fork Flathead Road Corridor Study document is now available for download from the study’s web page. The study document does not include the three associated appendices, which can also be downloaded from the same place. For those of you who don’t wish to wade through the full 66-page document, the study group’s September newsletter contains a good summary of the findings and conclusions.
Here’s the ultra-condensed version: The corridor study was a $125K Montana Department of Transportation project looking at alternatives for improving the condition of the North Fork Road from Blankenship Road to Camas Junction. The final conclusion recommends improved road maintenance and some sort of dust abatement (several options are listed). Paving was not recommended.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens have captured five “problem” bears in seven days throughout Flathead County. Three of them, a good-sized sow and two cubs, were relocated to the North Fork, another had to be put down and one was dropped off east of the Swan Range. This year’s poor berry crop has sent an unusually large number of bears down-valley into settled areas as they try to fatten up prior to hibernation.
The Daily Inter Lake has a good write-up on the situation; the Missoulian also has coverage. The Flathead Beacon has the actual FWP report, along with a pretty cool photo.
Here is Richard Wackrow’s report on the presentation by David Abegglen, agent in charge of the Whitefish office of the Border Patrol, at the NFLA meeting earlier this month. For background information, see the article “Border Patrol agents on North Fork to increase from four to 50-plus” published in this summer’s newsletter . . .
As reported earlier, North Forkers are seeing more U.S. Border Patrol agents and increased local law enforcement activity on the North Fork as the result of a nationwide surge of agents and implementation of Operation Stonegarden.
Speaking by invitation prior to the Sept. 4 North Fork Landowners’ Association meeting at Sondreson Hall, David Jet Abegglen, patrol agent in charge at the Whitefish Border Patrol office, confirmed that there are now about 25 agents in this district. Besides patrolling the North Fork, his agents travel as far south as St. Regis and Missoula on assignments. Abegglen confirmed that the number of agents in his charge will continue to increase, as dictated by a “threat analysis” for the North Fork.
Operation Stonegarden is a national program designed to increase local law enforcement presence in communities along both borders through federal grants. In Flathead County, some $500,000 has been distributed to several agencies, including the Sheriff’s Office and the Kalispell Police Department. Sheriff’s deputies have been seen patrolling along the North Fork Road. Some deputies are riding with Border Patrol agents.
Addressing privacy concerns expressed by some at the hall, Abegglen said that federal statutes mitigate the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure. Within 25 miles of the border (roughly from Camas Creek Road north), Border Patrol agents may enter private property without probable cause. They may not, however, enter a North Forker’s home or the buildings in its immediate vicinity without a warrant or in a non-urgent situation.
Abegglen confirmed the surge of Border Patrol agents nationwide. Congress has mandated that the number of agents be increased to some 22,000, with 10 percent of them deployed along the Canadian border. In addition, new Border Patrol facilities along the Canadian border must accommodate at least 50 agents.
During the question-and-answer period of his talk at the hall, Abegglen would not answer questions regarding the DHS’s threat analysis for the North Fork (which, he mentioned earlier, dictates the surge of agents on the North Fork) or any apprehension data, characterizing them as “law enforcement sensitive” under DHS regulations.
Regarding other issues, Abegglen said that:
Abegglen may be reached at his Whitefish office: telephone (406) 862-2561, cell (406) 270-5951, e-mail david.abegglen@dhs.gov.
Yesterday, Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg released the text of draft legislation to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species list in Montana and Idaho.
Rehberg has posted the proposed bill on his website and is asking for public comment. The site’s “Wolf Management” page includes a link to the bill, as well as an online feedback form. But, be warned, submitting comments through that form automatically places you on his mailing list.
A brief article in today’s Flathead Beacon provides links to additional background information.
From today’s Missoulian . . .
Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg released draft legislation Thursday that would prohibit treating gray wolves in Montana and Idaho as endangered species and turn management of them exclusively over to the states.
The brief, two-page draft is meant to be a starting point for legislation that he hopes to present to the House of Representatives soon.
From today’s Missoulian . . .
Another 11 oil and gas exploration leases along the west side of Glacier National Park have been voluntarily released, according to Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester.
XTO Energy has decided not to pursue its development options on about 21,000 acres along the North Fork of the Flathead River. That means nearly 79 percent of the area’s oil and gas leases, totaling more than 200,000 acres, have been taken off the table. XTO Energy is a subsidiary of ExxonMobile Corp.