State forestry plan stressed

In an attempt of unity, Boundary County, Idaho, Commissioner Dan Dinning urged leaders from both Lincoln and nearby Sanders counties to participate in a forum to discuss state agencies logging on federal lands.

Dinning and Forest Consultant Jim Riley made a presentation to Lincoln County commissioners last week to take part in a pilot project that would allow counties a funding source — timbering — to replace revenue lost through sequestration in the Secure Rural Schools fund.

Lincoln County commissioners Tony Berget, Ron Downey and Mike Cole didn’t need much arm-twisting to get on board in the pilot project entitled a Community Forest Trust.

The idea of the trust is to allow the heavily forested Idaho counties of Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Shoshone and Valley to begin logging lands where federal agencies have slowed the process.

In Lincoln County, about 73 percent of the land is federally owned timberlands.

Riley said it is the intent to get as many counties online for the program as possible — crossing state lines — to expand the interest in an effort to show congressional delegates the interest, which he said would further the cause.

“Broader interest will improve our chances with congressional leaders,” Riley said.

Berget, the Lincoln County presiding commissioner, needed little persuasion to get on board, calling Sanders County Commissioner Carol Brooks.

“I’ll call Carol right now,” Berget said.

Brooks excitedly offered the county office in Thompson Falls as a central meeting place and said she would further the invitation to other timber-producing counties with which she is affiliated. 

“I would really enjoy some kind of get-together to discuss this,” said Brooks a regional forestry representative among area counties.

That was all it took, as commissioners agreed to meet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at the Sanders County Courthouse.

From his standpoint, Berget is eager to find another funding source. Lincoln County commissioners already have determined they need to trim $700,000 from next year’s budget. To date, they have cut about a half-million.

“I’d be all for this,” Berget said. “The state seems to do a pretty good job at (logging state lands.)”

During a recent interview at the DNRC Office in Libby, Manager Mark Peck confirmed timbering of state lands is mandated by the Montana Constitution. 

Timbering, Peck said, helps to fund higher education.

“It’s part of our job,” Peck said. 

Peck indicated increased timbering would require additional manpower, but he would not object to the idea.