Snowpack close to average in most of Western Montana; Flathead area a little less

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Looks like snow snow accumulation is running a bit behind locally, but not in Western Montana generally . . .

The snowmen look a little shriveled, but western Montana’s 2012 snowpack has stuck close to average despite January’s wintry weather.

Readings from the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bozeman show the Columbia Basin rivers of northwest Montana at 93 percent of their average precipitation. The Kootenai, Upper and Lower Clark Fork and Bitterroot are all right around 100 percent, with only the Flathead basin lagging at 86 percent of average.

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Whitefish Review call for submissions on “wildness”

News,

Passed along by John Frederick . . .

Want to write about wildness or the wild?

Here is a request for submissions to the Whitefish Review from Christina Eisenberg, soon to be Dr. Eisenberg, who recently studied wolves in the North Fork.

This is a call for submissions on wildness for the Whitefish Review…

I am the lead editor for the Whitefish Review Summer issue. We have chosen as this issue’s theme wildness. Rick Bass will be the fiction contest judge. The Wild Issue, as it is being called, will feature short stories, poetry, nonfiction and art on the theme of wildness. All interested contributors can learn more by visiting our Website: http://www.whitefishreview.org/index.htm We are looking for submissions that celebrate and explore wildness in astonishing, inspiring ways.

The reading period is open through March 15. The launch party will be June 1, 2012, in Whitefish.

Cristina Eisenberg
PhD Candidate
Boone & Crockett Fellow
High Lonesome Ranch Research Director
Oregon State University
College of Forestry

Cristina Eisenberg has appeared here before. She contributed an article to the Summer 2009 NFPA Newsletter discussing the far-reaching and surprising effects on the ecosystem of top predators such as wolves. Later in the year, the Missoulian did a lengthy article — with photos — on the studies she did in the North Fork.

U.S. Forest Service announces plans to boost timber production, forest health work

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

From today’s Missoulian . . .

The U.S. Forest Service wants to speed up work on national forests, for both timber production and forest health.

“Collaboration is most effective in getting forests managed in a proper way,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said during a conference call on Thursday. “We want to move beyond the conflicts in the past that slowed progress down. We’re going to look to encourage environmentalists, folks in the forest industry, people who live in forest communities and other stakeholders to work for healthy forests.”

Vilsack pledged the Forest Service would boost its lumber production from 2.4 billion board feet in 2011 to 3 billion board feet by 2014. That would come through a 20 percent increase in forest acres treated over the next three years.

Those treatments also include fuels reduction, reforestation, stream restoration, road decommissioning, culvert work and prescribed fire, as well as timber harvesting.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: Be prepared for winter travel

Commentary, ,

in his column this week, Larry talks about winter recreation and the importance of basic survival preparedness . . .

I guess it’s human nature to worry about the weather, or at least talk about it. Even so, I can’t help but wonder why people don’t think, talk and worry about things that would save them time, money or even lives.

A week or so ago, the North Valley Rescue Association conducted snowmobile training in the Canyon Creek area. This is a popular snowmobiling area, with miles and miles of groomed trails and an area where snowmobilers of all abilities can really enjoy themselves out of doors.

It’s also an area where, just a few years ago, a person was caught in an avalanche and killed.

Continue reading . . .

Wolf hunt closed in North Fork area

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

Here is a little more detail on the closure of the wolf hunt in the North Fork area, as well as general hunt status in this corner of Montana . . .

A wolf hunting district covering the North Fork Flathead drainage has been closed by the state because the district’s wolf quota recently was reached.

Wolf Management Unit 110 had a quota for two wolves to be harvested by hunters with wolf permits. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced the closure Tuesday.

Only one other wolf-hunting district in Northwest Montana has been closed. District 101 covering the Salish Mountains west of Kalispell had a quota of 19 wolves that was reached Dec. 29.

Continue reading . . .

Next North Fork Interlocal Agreement meeting on Feb. 15 in Glacier Park

News,

Scott Emmerich, North Fork District Ranger, sent out the following announcement a couple of days ago concerning the upcoming Interlocal Meeting in Glacier Park . . .

 

We’re trying to go “paperless” with our Interlocal Meeting notifications this winter.  It would be helpful to me if you’d spread the word to those in your span of relationships who would benefit from attending.  Thank you.

The main goal of the meeting is to foster open communication among North Fork neighbors.   It may be helpful to meet one-on-one with specific agency representatives prior to the meeting if you are hoping to obtain information that may require some extended research.  I can help provide you with phone numbers and/or email addresses to facilitate this connection.

The agenda is time-tested, absolutely adjustable and remarkably similar year after year:

 

NORTH FORK INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT MEETING
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2012 10a.m.-1p.m
COMMUNITY BUILDING, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

 

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT LANDOWNER UPDATES

North Fork Compact
North Fork Preservation Association
North Fork Land Owners Association
North Fork Road Coalition for Health & Safety

 

AGENCY UPDATES

US Fish & Wildlife Service
MT FW&P
MT Department of State Lands
Flathead County
Flathead National Forest
Homeland Security (US Border Patrol)
Glacier National Park

 

SPECIAL AGENDA TOPICS

(To be determined.)

Host & Date for Summer 2012 Interlocal?

 

Please contact me if you have special needs as they relate to the meeting.

I hope to see you in a few weeks!

 

Scott

 

Scott Emmerich
North Fork District Ranger
Glacier National Park
(406)888-7842

Wolf hunt closes along Glacier Park border

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

The wolf hunt is officially over for the North Fork and environs. Here is the press release . . .

The hunting of all wolves in Montana Wolf Management Unit 110 which includes portions of Lincoln and Flathead Counties, in northwestern Montana, will close Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at one half-hour after sunset.

The order halting the hunt came after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for wolves in the WMU had been met.

For more information, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov click “Montana Wolf Hunt,”or call the toll-free number at 1-800-385-7826.

And here is a related Associated Press article . . .

Montana officials are closing down wolf hunting in parts of northwestern Montana bordering Glacier National Park after hunters filled the area’s two-animal quota.

Hunting closes after sunset Wednesday in portions of Lincoln and Flathead counties west of the park.

Continue reading . . .

California gets its very own wolf

Environmental Issues, News, ,

First the grizzlies started moving back out onto the high plains, now a young male wolf called “OR7” has wandered into California. California being California, it’s a big deal. The New York Times has the story. It includes some pointed observations by Ed Bangs, the recently retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wolf recovery coordinator for the Northern Rockies. . .

SAN FRANCISCO — On the Chinese calendar, this week ushers in the year of the dragon. But here, it feels a lot more like the year of the wolf

On Dec. 28, a 2 1/2 -year-old gray wolf crossed the state line from Oregon, becoming the first of his species to run wild here in 88 years.

His arrival has prompted news articles, attracted feverish fans and sent wildlife officials scrambling to prepare for a new and unfamiliar predator.

Continue reading . . .

Feds release new national forest management rules

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

Here’s a pretty useful write-up on the proposed new national forest planning rule. Or, for those of you who like to read source documents, the official U.S. Forest Service press release and a link to the (take a deep breath) “Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule” can be found online at the Forest Service web site . . .

A proposed planning rule for managing national forests puts new emphasis on watershed health and recreation, but also strives to keep loggers in the woods, U.S. Forest Service officials said Thursday.

The national rule will guide local forest supervisors when they make their more specific forest management plans. Those plans govern where trees can be cut, the kinds of wildlife to watch out for, activities allowed in campgrounds and the backcountry, and how people can challenge forest decisions.

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More information: Press release and link to U.S. Forest Service’s draft planning rule

Obama administration releases new forest management rules

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

A shiny, new set of national forest management rules are due to take effect in early March . . .

The Obama administration says new rules to manage nearly 200 million acres of national forests will protect watersheds and wildlife while promoting uses ranging from recreation to logging.

The new rules, to replace guidelines thrown out by a federal court in 2009, are set to take effect in early March. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the rule change on Thursday.

Vilsack said in an interview that the rules reflect more than 300,000 comments received since a draft plan was released last year. The new rules strengthen a requirement that decisions be based on the best available science and recognize that forests are used for a variety of purposes, Vilsack said.

Continue reading . . .