Logging operations start at Bass Creek Recreation Area

Dennis Bragg photo(STEVENSVILLE)- Logging has started in the popular Bass Creek Recreation Area, as Bitterroot National Forest managers use selective thinning to try and control the spread of the mountain pine beetle.  

With a few pieces of low-impact logging equipment, Pyramid Lumber started thinning trees here at Bass Creek Friday. The goal of Bitterroot National Forest is to make this a healthier stand by removing smaller "understory" trees, which become like condos for beetles as they spread through the woods. 

"Our two high use areas, Lake Como and Bass Creek, get about 300,000 or visitors more annually. This site here, about 50,000 or more come and use this every year," says Bitterroot National Forest spokesman Tod McKay. "We're talking horse back riders, hikers, mountain bikers, campers. This is a really popular high-use area. So this kind of work is critical. If we don't do this kind of work and mountain pine beetle comes in and has the same impact that's had in different areas on the forest people won't be able to use this. Because it won't be safe."

Stevensville District Ranger Dan Ritter says protecting the popular spot is a top priority.

"This one, in particular is at risk because there are so many trees per acre. it's an overstocked stand. They're all about the same age. So by thinning this out we'll provide a more resilient forest that the bugs won't get in here and kill everything. Which would be the worst case scenario."

Foresters are selectively removing only certain trees. And once the equipment has gone through its easy to see the difference between the original dense stand, and the logged area where the pines have more room to thrive. The project will last for the next several weeks. 

Ravalli County extends fight over Forest Service water claim

(HAMILTON)- Ravalli County commissioners lose the first round in their fight against the U.S. Forest Service claiming water flowing from the Bitterroot Mountains. But the county isn't giving up.

The county is upset with the Forest Service applying for junior water rights on Bitterroot streams. The Montana DNRC says the county doesn't have "standing" to object, but the county has sent another letter arguing that it does. 

In the letter, Ravalli County argues that Bitterroot National Forest has used a flawed methodology to calculate the water right claim, and just wants to block future access to water, especially on Blodgett Creek outside Hamilton. 

Forest Service moves to secure water rights on Bitterroot streams

Blodgett Creek at heart of water rights dispute- Dennis Bragg photo(HAMILTON)- A move by the U.S. Forest Service to secure water rights to protect fish in Bitterroot streams is setting off new alarm bells in Ravalli County. 

The Forest Service is starting to claim water rights on the streams feeding out of the Bitterroot Mountains in a move to protect endangered species like native cutthroat and bull trout. The move is allowed under a water compact with the state approved 5-years ago.

However, filing water rights on Blodgett Creek outside Hamilton has suddenly put the issue square on the radar of Ravalli County commissioners. And Friday morning Bitterroot National Forest managers faced not only the upset commissioners, but a roomful of angry people. 

The Forest Service tried to explain the new water right would have an effective date far behind historical rights in the valley. 

"We are over a hundred years junior to every single right in Blodgett Creek. And it's non-diversionary. It never leaves the stream," explained Jed Simon of the Forest Service's Region 10 Headquarters. 

But county commissioners, along with the ranchers and property owners, disputed the agency's data being used to claim the water, accusing the agency of trying to secure water "that isn't there" on the small streams, at a time when the Bitterroot basin remains closed to further water claims.

Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor Julie King said the move is only to protect the future fisheries, pointing out that was one of the objectives of Ravalli County's recently enacted Natural Resources Policy. 

"I don't have an ulterior motive with it. This obviously started long before I got here. Honestly I don't know of any ulterior motive for this, other than for fish."

Commissioners feel the Forest Service should do more to stop fires and allow backcountry dams to be easily maintained if the objective is saving fish.

"First thing should have been the watershed. Second thing should have been to expand the water reservoir up there for the water to be able to run year 'round for the fish. I just don't like this whole process," complained Commissioner Ron Stoltz. 

"You don't get it, it appears to me, on one side without getting the responsibility on the other side to maintain that same thing that you're saying you're taking. Especially if it's more water than actually flows in the stream at any time during the year," said Commissioner J.R. Iman. 

Commissioners set a hearing for February 20th to take more public input and decide whether to formally oppose the Forest Service's application. 

Forest Service, Lost Trail Ski area battle beetle outbreak

Crews work to finish up the Lost Trail logging project before winter sets in- Dennis Bragg photo(LOST TRAIL PASS)- Crews are in the final stages of removing more than 1-million board feet of timber at Lost Trail Pass, selectively logging the mountain to counter the spread of mountain pine beetles.

Perched right on the Idaho-Montana border, Lost Trail sees most of its activity in the winter. But right now the mountain is a hub of activity as crews selectively log the area in the latest assault on the mountain pine beetle.

Throughout this year, Bitterroot National Forest has been spraying, patching, and logging to stop the epidemic of the rice-sized pests which are spreading throughout the Northern Rockies. The latest battle ground is here at the resort, where crews are almost finished removing hundreds of infested and hazard trees.

That thinning is creating more open timber stands, removing not only “bug kill”, but improving safety for skiers.

“The stand behind us is healthier, from a competitive standpoint," explains Bitterroot National Forest scientist Jerry Krueger. "The residual trees are going to have access to more water, more resources, more sunlight. They’re going to be healthier. And the safety of the skiers here will be improved by the removal of the dead and the dying trees.” 

“And removing these dead trees will really help them from falling on the ski runs this winter, from hitting cables. Not only that, it’s an esthetic issue," adds Bitterroot National Forest spokesman Tod McKay. 

Newer, low-impact mechanized logging equipment has been working on about 250-acres this fall, following up an additional 170-acres thinned last summer. This project was “fast-tracked” to get the work done now, before the beetles can spread further, making the problem worse.

With the Mustang Fire having burned within a few miles of the resort this summer, and memories of the 2000 fires fresh in their minds, the Grasser family says this forest project comes as a big relief.”

“With the fires that came through on the Idaho side this summer, to get these trees on the ground, get the fire hazard reduced. Yeah, it’s really comforting," said Scott Grasser. 

Bill Grasser, who has spent decades developing the resort, says the logging project signals a new era in forest management and fire safety.

“These new foresters, these people, are contentious. They really know what they’re doing and they take a lot of pride and care. It’s a new age of forestry. We lived through the 2000 fire and we don’t want to see that again.”

But this work is just a start. Both the Grassers and the Forest Service say this project has gone so well they’ll likely be working on additional tree thinning in the future. 

Citizens group proposes alternate resource policy for Ravalli Co

(HAMILTON)- Opponents of a proposed Ravalli County Natural Resource Policy are asking county commissioners to “take a step back” to consider other viewpoints before approving the controversial document. 

For more than a year, the Bitterroot Natural Resource Recovery Committee has been working on, and promoting the policy, spurred by issues like massive fires that hit the Bitterroot National Forest and wolf management. The draft policy was delivered to county commissioners last May, and the board has been working on the document ever since. 

Now a smaller group are presenting their own proposal. The group told commissioners this week their version places more emphasis on “non-consumptive” management of forest, water and wildlife, instead of the “extraction” of natural resources.  

The major sticking point is over the use of “coordination”, a still-evolving mechanism in federal law which some believe gives counties and states more say in federal management. Backers of the new policy say that smells like the old “Sagebrush Rebellion” of the 1990s, and the long fight over public lands.

“That history of baggage, related to the term coordination with a big “c”, in my opinion clouds the issue and makes it more of a divisive process than one that’s unifying," said Skip Kowalski, who is a retired Forest Service employee. 

Commissioners say there’s nothing “illegal” about exploring coordination, which they believe would head off lawsuits filed by environmental groups.

“We’re trying to take a more proactive and positive thing," argued Commissioner Suzy Foss. "We don’t want to be involved in lawsuits that are going to be pending very soon. We want to better serve our community by having this kind of conversation with everybody.”

Critics of the original draft policy complain they haven’t been a part of that conversation, and didn’t feel “comfortable” going to meetings of the Natural Resource Recovery Committee.

Commissioners said they’re considering all viewpoints, and aren’t out to attack the Forest Service or any other single agency. 

“Some people are trying to chariacterize this as an “us versus them”, county against the Forest Service," said Commissioner Greg Chilcott. "That I don’t think is the intention of anyone on the committee that brought this forward nor anyone sitting on this body.”

“And it won’t be settled just here in the Bitterroot," said Foss. "Its going to be, I’m sure, it’s a political issue that’s going to end up being addressed. All I know is that as a county commissioner I’m supposed to defend the economy and the health and the safety and the general welfare.”

Work on the policy continues with work sessions every two weeks.