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Effort to Turn Forest Service Lands over to State Management Meets Opposition in Swan Lake

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During a meeting last night at the Swan Lake Community Center, a packed room of Montanans from all walks of life made one thing abundantly clear: We love our National Forests.

Hosted by Lake County Commissioners, the meeting was held to inform and seek input from the public regarding the Swan Resource Management Study, which entails a controversial proposal by the Lake County Conservation District (LCCD) to turn 60,000 acres of the Flathead National Forest, all within Lake County, into a “conservation forest” to be managed “in trust” by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). Jim Simpson, Chairman of the LCCD, presented an overview of the proposal and answered questions from concerned citizens.

In response to a question, Simpson assured those in attendance that he was not advocating transfer of federal public lands, and that this plan is in “no way” associated with the American Lands Council, an organization that seeks to transfer federal lands to the states. The conservation forest, he said, will remain under federal ownership, but would be managed by the state in accordance with the same rules and regulation that govern management of state forests. All American citizens would maintain the right to enjoy all activities currently allowed on the land, he said, and the forest would resort back to Forest Service management in 100 years. Net revenues from management would be invested into the Swan Valley community for “conservation projects” on state, federal, private and tribal lands. The project would require Congressional approval. ​

“Management emphasis will be on reducing fuel levels and fire risks, managing the forest locally and collaboratively, and actively managing the forest to promote forest healthy,” Simpson said. “We want to generate income for Lake County, and put that money into conservation.”

At this stage, Simpson said, he is merely seeking comments from the public. “We want to find out, from you, if this project goes forward or not, before we approach the governor and the Montana Congressional delegation.”

Simpson showed a time-lapse video of the devastating Roaring Lion fire in the Bitterroot Valley this past summer, a wildfire that burned nearly 8,000 acres and destroyed 14 homes. He seemed to insinuate that the creation of a “conservation forest” would prevent such fires in the Swan Valley. However, there was no talk about forest-fire ecology; the historical and natural role of fire in creating and shaping western forests; how past management activities and climate change have contributed to recent increases in size, frequency and intensity of wildfires, and how the Forest Service has been actively engaged in collaborative efforts to reduce fire risks near and around homes and structures.

Some of the concerns and comments brought up by those in attendance: National Forests belong to all Americans, and all American should have a say on how they are managed; State management seems more driven by profit than protecting and enhancing wildlife habitat and clear, clean rivers and streams that are important to hunters, anglers and others; the Forest Service has a larger budget, and therefore more resources to better manage the forests and fight wildfires, and the state should seek to work collaboratively with the Forest Service to achieve goals rather than take over management of our National Forest lands.

In fact, just south of Swan Lake, a collaborative effort called the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project is bringing together a diversity of citizens with various interests – including hunters, anglers, business leaders, county commissioners, loggers, ranchers, snowmobilers, mountain bikers, environmentalist and others – to set aside their differences, find common ground, and manage National Forest and other lands in a manner that protects fish and wildlife and related recreational activities, reduces fire risks, and helps local communities. It seems preferable to turning our National Forest lands over to state management for 100 years.

Simpson says public comments will determine whether the project moves forward or not. To learn more, and provide input, go to: swanforestinitiative.org

David Stalling is the Montana Wildlife Federation Western Field Rep. Contact him at dstalling@mtwf.org

Good News for Elk and Elk Hunting

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The withdrawal of controversial habitat security standards by the U.S. Forest Service illustrates that our public lands do, indeed, belong to us all and we can all have an influence on how they are managed. It also shows the value of hunters uniting and working together.
In response to concerns by Montana hunters and various hunting conservation organizations, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest recently dropped an amendment to the Divide Travel Plan that would have changed habitat security standards. The Forest Service decided, instead, to return to time-tested, science-based, big-game habitat security standards.

“We’re pleased that they dropped the amendment and went back to the old standards,” says Gayle Joslin of Helena Hunters and Anglers, an affiliate of MWF. “Standards are measurable and definable at the landscape level and this recognizes vegetative cover as an important thing.”

As those of us who have crawled through dense, dog-hair lodgepole thickets; climbed up and down steep, slippery slopes covered in of tag alder, and slowly worked our way through piles of blowdown in dark spruce bottoms in pursuit of wild elk . . . well, elk aren’t easy to hunt. But that’s a good thing. If hunting were too easy, there’d be less elk and more hunting restrictions such as limited permits. Or, in many places, elk flee to private lands off limits to hunting. What makes some places tough to hunt is what wildlife biologists call ‘habitat security’. Numbers of hunters, hunting-equipment technology, open-road density and the percentage of terrain covered by forests and other vegetation can all influence elk vulnerability and habitat security. Protecting and enhancing habitat security and reducing vulnerability often results in healthier, more balanced elk herds; good bull-to-cow ratios; more mature bulls in herds; higher calf survival rates and, therefore, more and better hunting opportunities.

Extensive, cooperative research between the Forest Service, state fish and game agencies and several timber companies in the 1970s and 1980s helped define terms such as “bull elk vulnerability” and “habitat security,” and led to the development of standards that the Forest Service has used when developing management plans. When the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest decided to adopt new standards, MWF, Helena Hunters and Anglers, Anaconda Sportsmen’s Association, Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Clancy-Unionville Citizens Task Force filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service calling for further analysis and justification for the change. In response, the Forest Service decided to avoid litigation and drop the amendment.

“I believe it’s in the best interest of the public for me to withdraw the Record of Decision for the Amendment for the Divide Travel Plan Area Divide Travel Plan,” Forest Supervisor Bill Avey stated in a decision letter dated December 2.

This is good news for wild elk, and good news for those of us who hunt wild elk.

David Stalling is the Western Field Rep. for Montana Wildlife Federation. Reach him at dstalling@mtwf.org

Adding to our Public Lands Heritage

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Attacks on public land are so common these days that it seems hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts are constantly on the defensive.

But in fact, Montana hunters keep picking up wins on the public lands front. In fact, we’re adding public lands. And that’s a good thing for wildlife, for hunting opportunity and for wildlife watchers and other recreationists.

This week that can continue. The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider the addition of 640 acres to the Lost River Wildlife Management Area in Hill County, located in the north-central part of the state.

The addition will help with habitat for deer, antelope and numerous other non-game wildlife species. It will add to the area’s hunting opportunity for upland game birds and big game. And it will also have the benefit of increasing access to adjoining public lands.

It’s a win, win, win. Wildlife gains habitat on lands that are specifically for that purpose. Hunters have more state land to pursue game. And hunters gain even more hunting opportunity by gaining access to other public lands.

It’s exactly how the Habitat Montana program is supposed to work. It’s also why it’s so vital that this program that protects habitat and increases access continues.

Nick Gevock is the conservation director for the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Montana Hunters, Anglers Laud Today’s Progress in Protecting the Badger-Two Medicine

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TonyBynum - Badger-Two Medicine Photo Credit: Tony Bynum

Montana hunters and anglers are celebrating today’s announcement of the cancellation of additional oil and gas leases in the Badger-Two Medicine Area. U.S. Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell joined U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Blackfeet Nation Chairman Harry Barnes and Devon Energy Corporation President and CEO David Hager to announce that, through a collaborative agreement, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has canceled 15 additional oil and gas leases in the Badger-Two Medicine area of the Lewis and Clark National Forest in northwestern Montana. Devon Energy owns an interest in these federal leases.

The Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF) has been working cooperatively with the Badger Two Medicine Alliance and other partners to help protect the unique array of fish, wildlife, habitat, and related hunting and fishing opportunities in the area.

“We fully support responsible gas and oil development in appropriate places,” says David Chadwick, the Executive Director of MWF, “But this is one place that is too wild, too special, and too important to drill. With a tremendous diversity of wildlife — including elk, bighorns, mule deer, mountain goats and grizzlies – and one of the last strongholds for native westslope cutthroat trout, the Badger-Two Medicine area offers some of the best hunting and fishing in Montana. We plan to keep it that way.”

Bighorn Sheep, Boating Issues Top Fish and Wildlife Commission Agenda

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Bighorn sheep conservation issues will be front and center this week when the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission holds its monthly meeting in Helena.

The Commission will hear a presentation on management issues surrounding bighorns, which are struggling in the state with disease and other issues. It will also consider a bighorn sheep transplant from the Missouri River Breaks, bighorn Hunting District 482, to the south end of the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area to boost the herd there.

Commissioners will also consider additions to the Lost River and Fleecer Mountain wildlife management areas. In addition, commissioners will discuss prohibiting marmosets and tamarins as exotic species in Montana through rulemaking.

In other issues, commissioners will consider several boating issues that affect waters throughout the state. Among them are petitions for no-wake zones for Wood’s Bay and Cromwell Channel on Flathead Lake, a no-wake zone on the Madison River between Ennis Lake and the Madison Dam, and no-wake zones on Fort Peck Reservoir in the Duck Creek Bay and Bay of Park Grove areas.

The meeting will be held 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Montana WILD Center, 2668 Broadwater Ave. in Helena.

Jeff Lukas – MWF Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas

Conservation Director

Jeff Lukas is a passionate conservationist who has been fishing and hunting his entire life. Whether it’s floating a small stream chasing trout, pursuing elk in the high country, or waiting in a blind for ducks to set their wings, Jeff is always trying to bring more people afield to show them what we are trying to protect. He loves being in the arena, and he will never shy away from conversations about the beautiful and unique corners of Big Sky country.