Category Archives: Environmental Issues

Tester’s “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act” gets new Senate hearing

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From an AP article posted in today’s Flathead Beacon . . .

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s bill to increase both logging and wilderness areas in Montana was the focus of another Senate hearing Wednesday as the Democrat hopes to move forward a plan that has already become an issue in his high-profile election challenge from Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Washington again took testimony on a re-introduced version of a bill Tester first put forward nearly two years ago. Committee members expressed interest in working with Tester to advance a measure that died late last year as part of a last-minute budget bill.

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Ducks Unlimited lauds federal legislation to protect North Fork habitat in Montana

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From a recent Ducks Unlimited press release . . .

Ducks Unlimited is supporting legislation that will have a positive impact on waterfowl habitats and protect the North Fork of the Flathead Drainage in Montana. The bill, the North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2011 (S.233), was introduced in the 112th Congress by Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester.

Sen. Baucus will present the bill at a hearing to the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests on May 25.

“The legislation will protect the water quality of downstream flows to key wetlands in this drainage area. This is a critical staging area for migrating waterfowl and supports more than 50,000 waterfowl each year,” Robert Sanders, DU manager of conservation programs for Montana said.

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Scientists debate “magic number” of wolves needed for species’ survival

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A good summary of the science and opinion behind the debate on wolf recovery numbers from yesterday’s Missoulian . . .

One of the biggest arguments left unresolved by last year’s wolf lawsuit was the most obvious: How many wolves are enough?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took the gray wolf off the endangered species list in 2009, with the caveat that at least 150 wolves and 15 breeding pairs endure in each of the three states in the northern Rocky Mountain population (Montana, Idaho and Wyoming).

Recent surveys found at least 1,700 wolves in that area – more than enough to justify delisting.

But a coalition of environmental groups sued the government, claiming those numbers were wrong. To survive and thrive, they argued, the population needed at least 2,000 and preferably 5,000 wolves.

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Glacier National Park to ramp up boat inspections this year

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Due to the increased threat of aquatic invasive species transported on watercraft, Glacier Park is getting hard-nosed this year about boat inspections. Short version: If the watercraft has a motor or is towed on a trailer, it must be thoroughly inspected every time it enters the park.

See the press release for all the gory details . . .

This summer Glacier National Park will step up its boat inspection and permit program due to the rapid westward migration of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) on recreational watercraft. The consequences of an AIS infestation in park waters could be devastating to ecosystems and the local economy.  Visitors can still launch most motorized and trailered watercraft in the park, however, a thorough boat inspection is required upon every entry to the park. Hand-propelled watercraft are not required to obtain a permit, though park managers encourage all boaters to thoroughly clean, drain, and dry their watercraft and/or fishing equipment before coming to the park.

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Heavy snowpack brings early start for bear troubles

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Besides the flood threat, heavy snowpack in the mountains means that bears emerging from hibernation are foraging further down-valley for food. Bear managers have had a busy time of it dealing with nuisance bears. The Daily Inter Lake surveys the situation . . .

With too much snow at higher elevations and an abundance of food attractions in the valleys, grizzly bears and black bears have been stirring up trouble lately.

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Environmental group seeks delay in proposed endangered species settlement

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Last week, WildEarth Guardians cut a deal with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to clear the long-neglected backlog of candidates for the Endangered Species List. Today, the Center for Biological Diversity entered the fray . . .

An environmental group asked a federal judge on Monday to delay action on a proposed legal settlement that would require the government to consider new protections for hundreds of imperiled animals and plants.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed court documents in Washington, D.C., seeking to put the settlement agreement on hold. The Tucson, Ariz., group said the deal was hatched in secret and suffers from serious flaws.

Announced last week, the agreement between the Obama administration and Denver-based WildEarth Guardians received strong praise from many conservation groups.

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(UPDATE: The Center for Biological Diversity got a federal judge to put the deal on hold.)

Montana FWP Commission gives tentative approval to wolf hunt

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As expected, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission gave tentative approval to a fall wolf hunt at today’s meeting. The Flathead Beacon has the story . . .

Montana wildlife officials tentatively approved a plan Thursday to allow hunters to kill as many as 220 wolves this fall, marking the state’s first wolf management decision since Congress lifted endangered species protections.

The unanimous vote opens the door for the public to weigh in before the commission makes a final decision in July. It would be Montana’s second wolf hunt since 2009, when 72 wolves were killed, and state Fish, Wildlife and Parks commissioners appeared confident the 2011 hunt will be approved.

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Feds agree to clear backlog of ESA requests; eco-group agrees to stop suing

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A good write-up from today’s Missoulian . . .

A proposed settlement could unkink the backlog of 251 plants and animals awaiting attention from the federal Endangered Species Act, including Montana’s arctic grayling and sage grouse.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and WildEarth Guardians announced an agreement on Tuesday where the federal agency commits to clearing its candidate species list within five years, while the environmental group promises to stop suing the government for missing its legal action deadlines.

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