The first open house for the Flathead National Forest’s revised Forest Plan drew a pretty good crowd, including several North Forkers . . .

A good compromise, it’s been said, leaves everyone equally unhappy.

But despite some dismay among people at an open house Tuesday hosted by the Flathead National Forest to discuss its proposed forest plan revision, others said the agency had struck a reasonable balance between competing uses, particularly where wildlife is concerned.

“I heard from some folks tonight that this is the best plan we’ve come up with since the ’80s,” said Joe Krueger, a forest planner with the agency and the project team leader. “But I also heard concerns that it goes too far to the wilderness side.”

The Flathead National Forest has a series of public ‘open house’ meetings scheduled to provide information about the proposed Forest Plan revision. The first is on March 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Flathead NF Supervisors Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell MT 59901.

These “community meetings are planned to provide additional information and address questions related to the Flathead NF plan revision and the amendment proposed action. The open houses will provide an opportunity for you to meet with subject matter specialists (wildlife biologist, forester, recreation specialist, fish biologist) and ask questions about the proposed management direction. There will not be any formal presentations at the open houses so stopping by at any time between 5:30 and 7:30 is fine.”

Here’s the full list of meetings:

*Primary focus is NCDE Grizzly Bear Amendment

If you wish to read the entire Flathead National Forest Plan proposal, including the grizzly bear amendment, you’ll have to wade through better than 550 pages of text and figures. If you’d prefer to start with something easier to digest, the recent press coverage offers a pretty good overview of the main points . . .

• Flathead National Forest Unveils Vision for Future Management – An excellent overall discussion of the high points of the Forest Plan by Dillon Tabish of the Flathead Beacon.
• First look at Forest Plan – An introductory article by the inimitable Chris Peterson of the Hungry Horse News.
• 5 Montana forests move to manage habitat for grizzlies – The Missoulian’s summary of the grizzly bear amendment.

Here’s a good summary of the just-released draft of the new Flathead National Forest management plan . . .

The revised guidebook for managing the Flathead National Forest is ready for public review.

Several years of workshops, surveys, debates and deliberations came to a head late last week when forest officials published the draft version in the Federal Register.

Now, anyone interested in the Flathead’s snowmobiling, wilderness, downhill skiing, river floating, timber cutting, trail hiking, wildlife research and huckleberry picking has 60 days to add their opinions.

Read more . . .