Category Archives: News

Feb. 14 county commissioners’ meeting to consider North Fork setbacks

News,

The Flathead County commissioners are scheduled to consider adjustments to language for the North Fork Zoning District concerning setbacks on Feb 14th, 9:30am in their offices at 800 South Main Street, Kalispell. (A previous post discusses this in more detail.)

John Frederick sent out this reminder earlier today . . .

To North Fork Landowners

This is a reminder that the Commissioners’ hearing is on Valentine’s Day, February 14, at 9:30 am in their office. It is in the basement. It would be good if some of you could attend.

All this text amendment does is give a definition of temporary structures and include them in the setback distances from roads, rivers, lakes and streams. This was the intention of North Fork zoning from the beginning and only applies to the North Fork Zoning District.

For those who wish to provide comments to the County Commissioners, they must be received three days before the hearing. Without positive comments the chance of passage is slim. The names and email addresses for the Commissioners are:

Jim Dupont (jdupont@flathead.mt.gov)
Pam Holmquist (pholmquist@flathead.mt.gov)
Dale Lauman (dlauman@flathead.mt.gov)

You should also copy Mary Fisher, office manager of Planning and Zoning, (mfisher@flathead.mt.gov) with each email or letter so there  is a record of each message to the Commissioners. They need not be long.

The snail-mail address for the Commissioners is
800 South Main, Kalispell, MT 59901.

The Flathead County Planning and Zoning Office address is
1035 1st Avenue West, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Baucus & Tester reintroduce the “North Fork Watershed Protection Act”

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester have reintroduced legislation to prevent new oil and gas development and mining in the U.S. North Fork watershed. Here’s the full text of the press release, dated Jan. 31 . . .

BAUCUS, TESTER FIGHT FOR PERMANENT PROTECTION OF THE NORTH FORK AND TOURISM JOBS
Senators Hail Successful Negotiation Efforts to Protect North Fork While Reintroducing Bill

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester reintroduced legislation today to prevent new oil and gas development and mining on the American side of the North Fork watershed (map <http://baucus.senate.gov/01312011_North_Fork_Federal_Lands_Withdrawal_Area_June_9_2010.pdf> ). The North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2011 does not impede timber production, hunting or fishing and has the support of a broad coalition of Montana businesses, local officials and conservation groups.

“As Montanans, we have a connection to the land that unites us, but also requires us to act as stewards of our outdoor heritage. We’re pushing to build on the success we’ve had getting companies to retire oil and gas development leases in the North Fork at no cost to taxpayers,” said Baucus.  “Places like the North Fork attract tourists, businesses and jobs to our state. This bill sends a signal far and wide that we’re going to fight to protect all the things that make Montana such a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

“There are few places on earth like the North Fork when it comes to hunting, fishing, hiking and camping—but Montanans understand that protecting these areas is about more than just our outdoor heritage,” said Tester, Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.  “It’s about setting aside a place where we can pass on our Montana values to our kids and our grandkids.  This legislation is another step toward making sure future generations will be able to continue enjoying all of the outdoor opportunities Montana has to offer.”

“Glacier National Park and the North Fork River Valley play a very important part in our economic vitality.  Flathead Lake also serves as a critical economic engine for the region. The Chamber wishes to ensure that Glacier Park, the North Fork River, and Flathead Lake remain as economically productive as they are today.  We thank Sens. Baucus and Tester for their work to bring forward this important bill,” said Kalispell Chamber of Commerce President Joe Unterreiner.

Whitefish Mayor Mike Jenson hails the Senators’ fight to reintroduce this legislation.”The City of Whitefish greatly appreciates Senator Baucus’ and Senator Tester’s efforts to re-introduce the North Fork Watershed Protection Act.   This protection has been a long time coming and we greatly appreciate our Senators’ efforts and perseverance,” Jenson said. “This bill also provides some very important protections for the City of Whitefish’s watershed and continues our efforts and those of private landowners in our watershed to safeguard this vital resource.”

“I’m impressed with the diligence Senators Tester and Baucus put forth at protecting the North Fork watershed. It’s such a pristine area with so many recreational ties for all of us and deserves our attention and protection for generations to come. The economic impact this has for the tourism industry in Montana is significant; people marvel at what we sometimes take for granted,” said Cris Coughlin of Glacier Guides.

“This is great news for Montana and for one of America’s greatest national parks. Senator Baucus and Senator Tester just about got this critical protection piece to the finish line last year and we hope for quick passage this year,” said Tony Jewett, Vice President for Regional Operations for the National Parks Conservation Association. “We commend them for their persistence, leadership and commitment to protecting this special place. It’s both a part of our cultural heritage and an essential piece of the economic health of Glacier’s gateway communities.”

“This legislations helps balance the protection of the North Fork Flathead River, Glacier Park and Flathead Lake between Canada and Montana.  We commend senators Baucus and Tester for their commitment and diligence,” said Dave Hadden, Director of Headwaters Montana.

For the past 30 years, Baucus has been a steady and strong voice to protect the North Fork of the Flathead River, beginning with his successful 1975 proposal to designate the Flathead as a Wild and Scenic River.  To date, Baucus and Tester have successfully negotiated the return of more than 200,000 acres held by energy companies near Montana’s North Fork of the Flathead River.  The Senators have secured <http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=263>  the return of the primary interest in more than 80 percent of the total leased acreage.  Baucus and Tester vowed to continue these efforts in addition to fighting for passage of the North Fork Watershed Protection Act introduced today.

Malloy’s ruling could further restrict wolf hunts

Environmental Issues, News, ,

This one is kind of confusing. Apparently, there’s a possibility of a technical change in the designation of the gray wolf population in the Northern Rockies that would affect the way the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is allowed to manage them . . .

A federal judge is asking if gray wolves should lose their experimental designation across much of the Northern Rockies  — a move that could mean new restrictions on when the animals can be killed.

Continue reading . . .

Rehberg & Tester start push for state wolf management control

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

According to the Missoulian, Montana’s congresscritters are starting this year’s push to get wolf management moved out from under federal control . . .

Gray wolves returned to the crosshairs of Montana’s congressional delegation Wednesday.

Rep. Denny Rehberg announced the introduction of two pieces of legislation that would permanently remove them from the protections of the Endangered Species Act, and Sen. Jon Tester sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar asking him to allow hunting of wolves in Montana to control their population growth.

Continue reading . . .

(Note that there was also a supporting resolution passed in the Montana House.)

Regional wolf management specialist has big territory and big job

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

Today’s Daily Internet Lake has an interesting story about Kent Laudon, Northwest Montana’s wolf management specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The guy really has his hands full these days . . .

Wanted: Social arbiter and diplomat in one of the most emotionally charged arenas of wildlife management. Must be a detective and data cruncher with an uncanny ability to trap live gray wolves.

That’s pretty much the job description for Kent Laudon, Northwest Montana’s wolf management specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Continue reading . . .

Tester to take another swing at passing forest bill

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Here’s the Missoulian’s write-up on Sen. Jon Tester’s plans to take another swing at getting his “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act” passed this year . . .

Sen. Jon Tester plans to reintroduce his Forest Jobs and Recreation Act this year with no changes, but hopes to bring more Montanans to its support.

“The work doesn’t get done on the far left and it doesn’t get done on the far right,” Tester said during a meeting with the Missoulian editorial board on Monday. “It gets done in the middle…

Continue reading . . .

County commissioners to hold hearing on North Fork setbacks

News, ,

The Flathead County commissioners are scheduled to consider adjustments to language for the North Fork Zoning District concerning setbacks. The Daily Inter Lake has a good summary of the issue.  [Note: The meeting date is incorrect; it should be Feb. 14.] . . .

The issue of banning temporary structures in the North Fork Zoning District’s 150-foot setback from public roads and bodies of water is the focus of a Jan. 14 [correction: Feb. 14] public hearing before the Flathead County commissioners.

The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the commission chambers, 800 S. Main St. in Kalispell.

Continue reading . . .

Tester plans to try again on “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act”

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Sen. Jon Tester plans to take another swing at his “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act” starting early this year.

The Missoulian has the story . . .

Supporters of Sen. Jon Tester’s logging/wilderness bill hope an earlier start this year will break a quarter-century stall in Montana lands policy.

“I think at the end of this Congress, we all realized that even for a bill that’s broadly supported in the state, how hard it is to get a bill through the congressional calendar,” said Tom France of the National Wildlife Federation, which supported Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. “There’s a sense of disappointment that we ran out of time.”

Continue reading . . .

North Fork gravel pit limits rejected again

News, , ,

This is actually a pretty good article from today’s Daily Inter Lake . . .

A zoning proposal to limit the size of extractive industries on private land in the North Fork has failed for a second time to win approval from the Flathead County commissioners.

A motion made on Wednesday by Commissioner Joe Brenneman to approve a zoning text amendment to limit sand and gravel operations and other extractive industries to five acres and 20,000 tons annually failed for lack of a second.

Brenneman made the same motion in October, but that also died for lack of a second.

Continue reading . . .

Public lands bill stripped of major Montana provisions

Environmental Issues, News

It’s not looking good for the North Flathead Protection Act or any other Montana-related public lands legislation. The Missoulian has the story . . .

Only the most uncontroversial and cost-free ideas appear to have a chance of passage during the final days of congressional land policy legislation, and that doesn’t include most Montana measures.

An omnibus public lands bill with 110 combined projects died on the vine Monday evening in the U.S. Senate, but was expected to be replaced by a considerably smaller bill late Tuesday. Conservation policy watchers in Washington, D.C., were doubtful measures like the North Flathead Protection Act and the Land and Water Conservation Fund would be among them.

Continue reading . . .