Residents voice Plan concerns

Recreation users, outdoorsmen worry change will alter access to woodlands

Despite assurances to the contrary, a couple of outdoorsmen who attended the public forum on the U.S. Forest Service’s Draft Forest Proposal on Tuesday at the Ponderosa Room are skeptical about the intent of the plan.

Lenny Pauley, who is president of the Kootenai Ridge Riders ATV Club, and Mike Wagner, who professes to be an avid outdoorsman, think the Forest Plan is the beginning of a grander picture to limit access to wilderness areas.

“I don’t want to see another square inch of woodlands restricted,” said Wagner, a former logger who hunts, fishes and enjoys the back-country trails.

“It seems like every year there is another trail blocked off, trees down (sawed across) the paths. I don’t want any changes, not even a little bit,” he said.

Wagner’s sentiment was echoed by Pauley.

“We’re losing access every year,” Pauley said.  “It seems like every year another three or four trails that we’ve used the year before are blocked off.”

Explaining “blocked off” does not always mean gated, but references to mounds of dirt or sawed trees obstructing the use of the trail.

However, Kootenai National Forest Libby District Ranger Malcolm Edwards, who attended the forum, said the goal of the U.S. Forest Service is to do a better job of managing the woodlands and denied there is an agenda to limit access.

   “The old plan, which dates back to 2004, was not broken,” Edwards said. “This revised plan takes into consideration changes in the timber industry, and species that need to be protected like the bull trout and the grizzly bear.”

   Edwards explained the Draft Forest Proposal was written with the input of stakeholders, which included public input.

   “It was user-group developed,” Edwards said. “Really, it was pretty local. One of the more local organizations was the snowmobiling group. I think it received well-balanced attention.”

   The Forest Service is offering four alternatives, with the federal agency preferring Alternative B. Wagner and Pauley both prefer Alternative D, which allows for 75 percent of the woodlands to remain General Forest. Alternative D also allows for 38 percent of the woodlands for timber production.

   The USFS’ preference of Alternative B allows for 63 percent of the woodlands to remain at General Forest. It allows for 36 percent of the acreage to be utilized for timber production.

   Plan C allows for 59 percent of the woodlands to remain as General Forest. The acreage suitable for timber production is 34 percent.

   Alternative A essentially retains management under the existing plan, as amended to date.

   “We think Alternative D is the best plan for outdoosmen,” Pauley said as Wagner nodded approval. “It seems to be less restrictive on access.”

   In all there were 25 guests who signed in during the forum, one of whom was State Rep. Mike Cuffe of District 2.

   “This thing involves a lot of common sense,” said Cuffe, who stopped short of endorsing any plan. “I like what I see in Alternative D, but I haven’t made up my mind yet.

   “What is happening is the Forest Service wants to get back to managing the land, which, in my opinion is something they really haven’t done in years,” Cuffe said, acknowledging the idea that let timberland in Yellowstone burn years ago.

   “I think what’s happening now is there is a sincere interest in managing the land,” Cuffe said.

  The forum held Tuesday was the first of four. A subsequent forum was held Thursday, Jan. 26, at Eureka High School. Another forum is scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Troy Senior Center and Feb. 2 in Trout Creek at the Lakeside Motel Conference Room.

   Times for all forums are 4 to 7 p.m.

      “This draft plan is a key step in moving forward for management of the Kootenai National Forest,” said Kootenai National Forest Supervisor Paul Bradford.

   “Many years of hard work and collaboration have resulted in a draft plan that addresses the multiple demands our forest faces.”

   Documents explaining the Alternatives are available for download and review online at www.fs.fed.us/kipz. These documents are also available for viewing at all of the Ranger District Offices and the Supervisor’s Office. Compact discs or hard copies of these documents may be requested by phone 293-6211 or email (r1_kipz_revision@fs.fed.us).

   Written or electronic comments will be accepted for 90 days and should be submitted to: Kootenai National Forest, Forest Plan Revision, 31374 Hwy 2, Libby, MT 59923 or KNFplanrevision@fs.fed.us.