Northern Region news

18 Pages·1999·2.1 MB·English

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

A Newsletterfor Employees and Retirees_ISSUE 3_May - June 1999
Idaho's Forests
in Trouble
hat do you mean our forests are Changes in forest type and density in fact
unhealthy — they look green to do create hazardous conditions for resi¬
me!” According to a recent sur¬ dents. As Stan Hamilton, Idaho State For¬
vey conducted in Idaho, 80 percent of par¬ ester, explained, “ We have more and more
ticipants think Idaho’s forests are iust people moving into or adjacent to forested
fine! areas. The threat to lives and property is
The reality is Idaho’s forests are in growing. We must work with landowners
trouble. "The Douglas-fir bark beetle, and communities to reduce the risk of wild¬
root diseases and other influences are fires, insect and disease epidemics, and
changing the forests,” said Jim Byler. pa¬ create sustainable forests.”
thologist in Idaho. “Some change has Some options to actively manage the land
been rapid and some has taken decades include prescribed fire, thinnings, regen¬
to develop.” erating young forests of desirable species
The change in tree species is dramatic. after fire or logging, and restoring water¬
Since the 1950’s, western white pine has sheds by eliminating roads that are not
declined 93 percent; ponderosa pine, 44 needed or are damaging to water quality.
percent; and western larch. 72 percent. Regional Forester Dale Bosworth com¬
Getting the Other bad news; Aspen is showing a mented, “In the past, the debate over land
high incidence of decay and is being re¬ management was focused on what should
Message placed in many places by conifer forests. be taken from the land. Today, we need to
Whitebark pine forests are greatly dimin¬ refocus on what we are going to leave on
ished. particularly in the northern part of the land.”
to the
the State. On the upswing is Douglas-fir Through activities like stewardship con¬
and spruce fir. tracting we are increasing wildlife habitat,
People
improving watersheds, and reducing the
What We’re Doing risk of uncontrolled wildfires. The goal is
to leave the kind of forests that can sustain
us.
In addressing the issue, Idaho land
by Dave Atkins, ecologist managers are giving education high pri¬ The full story of Idaho’s forest condition
and Charlene Schildwachter, legislative is related in a recently released 30-page
ority. “Informing and educating our cus¬
and marketing specialist, RO report. Health of Idaho’s Forests. For a
tomers and partners about the condition
copy, please contact Dave Atkins in the RO.
of their forests is one of the first steps
IBM address: datkins/r 1, or telephone 406/
toward making positive changes,” stated
329-3132; or call Jim Byler, telephone 208/
Dayle Bennett, Idaho entomologist. “We
769-7342.
all have our work cut out for us!”
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Northern Region Missoula, Montana
2
undersized culverts in the project areas to
The Douglas-fir Bark
improve watersheds. In turn, these wa¬
Beetle Saga Continues.... tershed and road improvements will en¬
hance fisheries and wildlife habitat.
Forests Take Action to Address Epidemic One 4,000-acre area of particular con¬
cern to land managers was granted emer¬
gency status by the Chief of the Forest
Service. This status allows for quick ac¬
by Nadine Pollock, George Washington &
JDefferson National Forest, detailed to the 1PNF Colville National Forest—means that staff tion around the residential area of Hayden
are dealing with two forests, two regions, Lake and Fernan Lake on the Coeur d’
espite the complications sur¬ two states, and even two sets of regional Alene River District of the Idaho Pan¬
handle National Lorest.
rounding the Douglas-fir bark forester sensitive species lists.
In this "emergency status" area, removal
beetle epidemic in northern The selected alternative, widely sup¬
of dead and dying trees as well as water¬
Idaho and eastern Washington, the Forest ported by the public, calls for removal of
shed and road improvements may begin
Service has now selected an official course dead and dying Douglas-fir trees on ap¬
30 days after the decision announcement.
of action. In early June, after an extensive proximately 24,000 acres.
Lorest Service staff were particularly con¬
public involvement effort, the forest su¬ By removing dead and dying trees, the
cerned about the risk of wildland fire
pervisors selected an alternative from likelihood of intense wildland fires both
spreading to populated areas and the risk
those presented in the Draft Environmen¬ in the forest and adjacent populated areas
of beetles spreading to host trees on pri¬
tal Impact Statement. is lessened. Timber harvests to establish
vate land.
The project is not an easy one in terms young western white pine, ponderosa pine,
While no management action can stop
of logistics. It involves analysis of more and western larch are included in the treat¬ the bark beetle epidemic, the recent course
than 200,000 acres of land with diverse ments, along with salvaging dead or dy¬ of action set in motion reflects a practical
watersheds, road networks, and vegetative ing trees. common sense approach in managing the
composition. And the project area—R-l’s The forests will also relocate, recon¬ epidemic while moving the forests to a
Idaho Panhandle National Forests and R-6’s struct, and obliterate roads and replace long-term, sustainable condition.
Protection and Enjoyment of
Wilderness:
The proposal would limit groups to 16,
including stock and people, and campfires
couldn’t be built closer than one-quarter
mile of certain high-mountain lakes.
Can You Havig added, “We’re also proposing to
by Jack DeGolia,
establish the Goat Llat and East Lork Bit¬
public affairs officer
F Have Both? Beaverhead-Deerlodge terroot Research Natural Areas. We want
National Forest to eradicate weeds, provide clearer guide¬
lines relating to fish stocking — get rid of
orest Service mangers of wilder¬ Those proposed changes include a free trails that hikers have created, and reduce
ness are faced with a quan¬ permit system and limiting group size vis¬ the size of some camping areas.”
dary: how do you support pub¬ iting the 159,086-acre wilderness, located The proposal also would cap outfitting
lic enjoyment of wilderness and, at the southwest of Anaconda. Anyone now en¬ and it outlines how new outfitting propos¬
same time, protect the pristine qualities of tering the wilderness is asked to register, als should be dealt with.
these areas. but the new proposal would require hik¬ “We feel the Anaconda-Pintler Wilder¬
One answer is being explored by ers and others in the wilderness to carry a ness is a unique place,” said Havig.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Bitterroot permit to be filled out at trailheads. “These changes can only benefit future
National Forests’ staff who manage the “These permits are not meant to be re¬ visitors: we’ll be ensuring the Anaconda-
Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. They are strictive but will give us a chance to share Pintler will be as special a place for them
proposing changes to the wilderness’s information, such as low impact camping as it is for us.”
management plan to safeguard the pris¬ techniques with visitors and also collect Lor more information, call Deb Gale at
tine qualities of the wilderness as well as information on the number of people us¬ the Lorest Service’s Wisdom Ranger Sta¬
the quality of the wilderness experience ing the wilderness,” said Wisdom District tion [phone]. The public comment
by the public. Ranger, Dennis Havig. period on the proposal ends July 15.
3
A Message
From the Regional Forester
N
o doubt you’ve heard does not have confidence in our record¬
that this fiscal year keeping. Our ability or inability to ac¬
Region One is giving count for the dollars Congress gives us
high priority to the identification of is a factor in almost every discussion we
all our physical assets. That means have with the appropriation committee.
cataloging every road, dam, bridge, The 1995 audit by the Office of the
visitor center, campground, physi¬ Inspector General gave the Forest Ser¬ Dale Bosworth
cal improvement—everything that vice an “adverse opinion” as a result of
is considered “real property.” This our financial records. Currently, the counting procedures priority. Now we
monumental task is being con¬ Forest Service and the Department of have to pay the piper. We have to de¬
ducted nationwide throughout the Defense, the only government entities liver. If we can fix these problems, I
Forest Service. with extensive real property, are prevent¬ believe future Forest Service budgets
We recognize that this means ing the government from clearing its fi¬ will be positively affected.
other important work may not get nancial statements. Once we know what has to be done,
done this summer. I want to make Related to that problem is our inabil¬ our region is good at organizing and
sure you understand the reason ity to meet new accounting standards ini¬ doing it. We have our assignment. Ex¬
why. tiated by the Federal Government in the cept for safety and fire protection,
The bottom line is that Congress, early 1990’s. But the problem pre-dates there’s not a more important job this
who through their yearly budget those new standards. For the past 20 to year or next, until we get it accom¬
allocations, keep our doors open, 25 years, we just haven’t given our ac- plished.
Partners Help with Landmark
Prescribed Burns At right, l to r. Bob Farrell, Wyoming
Hotshots; Gary Karamidjiam,
Theodore Roosevelt NP; Rusty Jensen,
TRNP. Rusty lights a test fire at
the beginning of burning operations.
by Jennifer Berger and Kurt Hansen, On April 19, interagency team mem¬
Medora Ranger District,
bers ignited 472 acres within the park’s
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
D south unit. Engines patrolled the black-
lined perimeter of rolling, silver sage-dot¬
ted grasslands while firefighters kindled
akota Prairie Grasslands re¬
matted grasses. Flames fanned by light,
cently joined forces with vari¬
southerly winds branded a mosaic pattern
ous Federal agencies to con¬
across the acreage, completing the bum
duct the first prescribed bum in 50 years
within 6 hours. Close proximity to Inter¬
of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
state 94 and a busy county road added to Dakota Prairie Grasslands staff hope to
(TRNP) history.
the challenge of safely exercising this task. participate in future cooperative pre¬
The park is located within North
The goal was to stimulate growth of na¬ scribed burn plans, including ones that
Dakota’s million-acre Little Missouri Na¬
tive grasslands species to improve habitat cross USFS/NPS boundaries. TRNP an¬
tional Grasslands, managed by the Medora
and forage for park wildlife, including bi¬ ticipates reintroduction of fire into wilder¬
and Mckenzie Ranger Districts of R-l’s
son, elk, wild horses, mule deer and ante¬ ness tracts of its north and south units. The
Dakota Prairie Grasslands. Personnel in¬
lope. The bum will revitalize a segment intent is to mimic natural fire behavior by
volved in the bum included people from
of park ecosystem and reduce its hazard¬ having periodic, low intensity burns to
the two ranger districts, Wyoming Inter¬
ous fuel load, as well as help control ex¬ decrease the likelihood of a 1988
agency Hotshots, National Park Service
otic plants like crested wheatgrass and Yellowstone-like conflagration over the
and U.S. Fish & Wildlife.
leafy spurge. long term.
4
d-ea vitMsam flip
Skier Visits Up
casein oWmocmESB?
Over La;
Season
by Pat Antonich, RO recreation man¬
ageTment assistant
otal skier visits on the 12 alpine
ski areas that operated on na¬
tional forests in northern Idaho
and Montana this past ski season were
The lodge on top of Blacktail Mountain. Due to existing roads and skiable terrain, the lodge
and parking lot are at the top of the hill, so you can ski from your car. up 10 percent over the previous sea¬
son.
The season started off slow due to
by Allen Rowley, public affairs specialist
Flathead National Forest With over 13 miles of ski runs and 1440 lack of snow and severe cold weather
feet of vertical drop, there will always be prior to Christmas. Heavy snows later
uietly and without fan¬ room to ski even when the lifts may be a in the season, particularly in western
Q
fare, Blacktail Moun¬ peak capacity. In keeping with the family Montana and northern Idaho, helped
tain Ski Area, located south¬ orientation, 70 percent of the terrain is de¬ make up for the slow start. The con¬
weesstt ooFrrRcaall ispell, finished its first season signed for intermediates. The remaining tinued high Canadian exchange rate
of operation this April. It is this country’s 30 percent is equally split for beginners continues to affect visitation from Ca¬
newest ski area and the first to be approved and experts. nadian skiers.
on Forest Service-managed lands since Blacktail Mountain developed repeat The most popular ski areas during
1978. customers immediately upon opening. the 1998-1999 season were Big Moun¬
The approval for a new ski area required Now that the first season is over, word of tain, Flathead National Forest; Bridger
much study, documentation, and analysis. the new area is spreading and next year Bowl, Gallatin National Forest; and
The end result was a decision in May 1997 looks to be even stronger. Red Lodge, Custer National Forest.
by the Flathead National Forest to permit
the construction and operation of the ski
area under special use permit. By Novem¬
ber 1997 work on the site began.
The first skiers were able to use the new
slopes in mid-December 1998. It is de¬
signed as a day-use area, as opposed to a
destination resort. The facility is all on
public land with no private land tracts for
subdivision, housing, retail and lodging
development.
The area has a fully accessible lodge at
the top of the mountain with a cafeteria,
restaurant, lounge, rental shop, and day
care. Swan Lake Ranger Chuck Harris
said “the lodge is so comfortable you feel
like you are at a friend’s house.” Outside
there are four lifts, including a triple chair,
two double chairlifts, and a surface lift
with a total capacity to handle up to 2,000 Inside the lodge, just waiting for some snow and customers.
skiers.
5
Trapper Creek
Job Corps Students
Volunteer for Community
Job
Corps
Working on buildings. Left to right, Shaun
Mohan, Justin Reynolds.
National Youth Service Day, sponsored
by Dixie L. Dies, public affairs officer by Youth Service America, has been held
BitOterroot National Forest across the nation for the past 11 years.
This year. Job Corps was one of the na¬
Putting in new dirt floors.
n an exceptionally beautiful tional partners for the event. The day has Left to right, Perry Hamilton, Scott Fisher,
spring day, some 200 students been set aside to recognize the year-round Jeremy Martinez.
from Trapper Creek Job Corps service and volunteer efforts of young
were at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds people, recruit a generation of participants,
in Hamilton, Montana, trimming trees, and promote young people as resources
painting grandstands and corrals, washing to their communities.
and painting buildings, and putting in “It is really a win/win situation,” said
“new” dirt floors. Jim Kaney, deputy director for Trapper
The students, aged 16 to 24, were vol¬ Creek Job Corps,
unteering their services as part of National “Students can use their trade skills as
Youth Service Day. Except for 11 students well as learn to support their community.
on special assignments, the entire corps And the community got some work done
participated. that otherwise probably wouldn't have
been completed.'’
Painting corrals. Front to back, Amanda
Vincent, Maureen Serawop, and Ron
Murphy.
"Happy Trails"
Bringing a Dream to Reality
by SOcott Bixler. RO realty specialist
n Saturday, April 24. scores of traveling from the southern part of
participants joined Missoula Missoula to McCormick Park and the
District Ranger Dave Stack Riverfront Trail system.
and Missoula city officials at Southgate The Forest Service’s participation con¬
Mall in celebrating the dedication of sisted of the RO lands staff issuing a trail
Missoula’s Bitterroot Branch Trail. easement to authorize public access to a
The “rails with trails" project will pro¬ tract of National Forest System land lo¬
vide a multipurpose trail, 2 1/2 miles long cated at the Regional transportation facil¬
and 10 feet wide, along the Montana Rail ity at 14th and Catlin Streets.
Link’s right-of-way. With the issuance of this easement, a
This asphalt-paved trail will allow bi¬ community dream of over 20 years is close
cyclists and pedestrians to avoid most to becoming a reality.
Left to right: Dave Stack, Bruce Allen.
Missoula streets and parking lots while
6
-
Center Celebrates
by Paul Lloyd-Davies, partnership coordinator
100,000th Visitor Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpre
five Center, Lewis and Clark National Forest
S
everal days shy of the Lewis and Clark Na¬
tional Historic Trail Interpretive Center’s
first anniversary, the 100,000th visitor walked
through the door April 30. Visiting Great Falls to per¬
form in a jazz festival, Ted McKain of Kalispell was in
for a big surprise.
I’m in shock! I’ve never won anything before,”
McKain said, as he was greeted by center staff holding
a banner, bouquet of helium balloons and a gift bag
packed with Lewis-and-Clark-related items from the Por¬
tage Cache store. He also received an annual family
pass, which was purchased by center staff and donated
for the event.
In an interesting twist, McKain, 50, a Great Falls High
School graduate, is a nephew of Interpretive Center vol¬
unteer Lois Reynolds.
Noting that 60,000 visitors had been expected at the
center its first year, center director Jane Schmoyer-We¬
ber said the higher visitation pointed out the center’s
quick ascendancy as a premier Montana attraction.
Jane Schmoyer-Weber, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center director,
congratulates Ted McKain of Kalispell as the center's 100,000th visitor. In
the background are business management assistant Kaye Dobrocke and
interpreter Huel Willis.
Volunteers at the Lewis & Clark National
Center hours: Historic Trail Interpretive Center
Memorial Day Weekend
to Labor Day
Volunteers have played
open daily an important part in the
9 a.m. to 8 p.m. good service at the
Center. "Without our
volunteers, the public
Labor Day to Sept. 30
would not be served as
open daily
they are now," said
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
center director Jane
Schmoyer Weber.
Oct. 1 to Memorial Day "Their contribution the
Weekend first year equated to
open Tuesday-Saturday seven full-time staff."
The center staff prepare for the busy summer season. From left: front row,
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Paul Lloyd-Davies, partnership coordinator; Steve Schaller, interpreter;
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Billy Maxwell, interpreter; Jane Weber, director; middle row, Hue! Willis,
interpreter; Neil Wynn, engineering technician; Ann Goldhalin, education
coordinator; Dionne Half, visitor information clerk; back row. Sue Buchel,
Closed Mondays interpretive services specialist; Kaye Dobrocke, business management as¬
during the winter. sistant; Dee Pretty On Top, visitor information clerk. Not pictured: Lynette
Scriver, visitor information clerk.
7
Students Dig into
Archaeology!
Left: Elk City students (grades 2-4) show Zone
Fulbright how to find artifacts in the screen.
Photo by: ReaAnn Loomis, Elk City second
grade teacher
older students as they pulled each item out a pit and navigated their way around a
by Zone Fulbright, archaeologist of the ground. All of the kids, from kin¬ compass course set up in the school yard.
Red River Ranger District, Nez Perce NF dergarten through eighth grade, took part Even their teacher finally learned the ba¬
A in “bucket digs” — wash tubs filled with sics of using a compass!
dirt or sawdust that were seeded with arti¬ The final program of the week had the
s part of Idaho Archeology facts. After excavating their “pit,” each fifth and sixth graders practicing oral his¬
Week, Elk City students spent student watched as their dirt was screened, tory interviews. They wrote histories of
time with Red River Ranger hoping their bucket had the least artifacts their moms for Mother’s Day, and inter¬
District Archaeologist Zane Fulbright, that had gone undetected. viewed friends and relatives to gather in¬
learning to excavate and identify artifacts. The higher level math class then took a formation. They practiced by preparing
Kindergarten kids, already familiar with turn at orienteering and staking out a pit, questions and interviewing each other. We
pottery from watching the “Sherdy the using good old geometry and the even did some taping so the kids could
Storyteller” video, excitedly identified Pythagorean theorem to make certain that hear how they sounded.
potsherds. Sherdy. by the way, is an ani¬ their pits were square. The students will use their skills even
mated potsherd - and a potsherd is a pot¬ After the impromptu math lecture and more when they help to compile a history
tery fragment. compass lesson, we went outside (after the of the Elk City School, interviewing mem¬
Lithic tools and historic logging and fresh end-of-April snowfall) and laid out bers of the community and former Elk City
mining artifacts were identified by the test pits. The kids did a super job! By the students. They’re going to do great!
end of the session, all the kids had staked
Customer Service
Talking About Customer Service
Corner
and Doing Something About It!
Babete Anderson, with the
Beartooth District, Custer National
T by Gloria Weisgerber, RO customer service coordinator
Forest, recently got her name and pic¬
ture in the local Red Lodge newspa¬
here's no shortage of good cus¬ Participants were full of ideas and sug¬
per, the Carbon County News. The
tomer service in Region One. gestions for priorities. The first task out¬
paper nominated Babete for that
But there is a shortage of a re¬ lined by the group is now accomplished.
week's Random Acts of Kindness
gion-wide network to plan for and sup¬ There is a formal customer service net¬
award “in recognition of her unfail¬
port staff efforts to encourage a customer- work in place. Forest supervisors and di¬
ingly sunny manner in dealing with the
driven organization. rectors have selected an official contact
public. At a time when speaking with
On April 8 in Missoula, representatives person for each forest as well as for each
government employees is generally
district and RO unit.
from almost all the forests and units in
The goal of the new organization will less fruitful and enjoyable than talk¬
the RO gathered to take stock of the
be to lead self-managing forest and RO ing with an answering machine.
region’s customer service program. They
staff unit teams and to network across the Babete’s cheerful demeanor and help¬
discussed ways to strengthen our cus¬
region in an effort to achieve individual ful service are a breath of fresh big-
tomer service network, to make our pro¬
as well as regional objectives. sky air.”
gram more visible and consistent, to se¬ A conference to support R-1 ’s customer Hats off to you, Babete, for that
cure buy-in by staff, and to encourage service program will be held May 16-18,
smile in your voice!
more and better training. 2000, in Great Falls.
8
Tragic Plane Crash in Wilderness Claimed Ten Lives
A Personal Rememberance
I
by Cindy Schacher, archaeological technician
Nez Perce National Forest
t was June 11, 1979, a beauti¬ Within minutes the worst was confirmed.
The DC-3 was down in the Selway River.
ful spring day, bright with sun¬
The next few moments and hours were
shine and hope for a great sum¬
a blur. The one vision that has stuck clearly
mer. The clean air, with a hint
in my mind was that of a young man riding
of pine, is still fresh in my
up to us on a white horse. The horse was
mind.
my dad’s. Trigger, and the young man was
My father, Art Seamans, was the dis¬
Bryant Stringham who had been on the
trict ranger at Moose Creek. Our family
DC-3! He had escaped relatively un¬
was fortunate to spend our summers at the
scathed, one of two passengers who sur¬
remote ranger station. The years spent at
vived to tell of their experience.
Moose Creek were full of wonderment,
We learned later that an engine had over¬
learning, and enjoying the great outdoors. heated, causing the pilots to shut it down.
My mother, sister, and I had flown into Then the other engine blew a piston, which
Moose Creek Ranger Station the day be¬ started a fire and caused the propeller to
fore annual spring orientation in a Cessna seize, twisting the engine from the plane’s
206. We were originally scheduled to fly wing. The pilots did their best to land the
in the following day on a DC-3 with the powerless, unbalanced aircraft in the river
majority of the district crew, but my mom at Dry Bar, the only straight and quiet
decided we should go in ahead of time so stretch of the plunging Selway River, but
that she could bake a cake for everyone the plane fell a few feet short.
on orientation day. On that sunny spring day, June 11,1979,
ten people lost their lives in one of earth’s
As we settled in for the summer season
most magnificent places, the Selway-Bit-
on June 11, we sat on the wood steps of
terroot Wilderness. They were on their
our wall tent awaiting the arrival of the
way to a few months of adventure and hard
DC-3.
work to help manage and preserve that
Spring orientation was a time for all the
rugged land.
employees to get acquainted and learn
That there were two survivors, Bryant
about the job they would be doing. It was
Stringham and Charles Dietz, is testimony
a fun time, a time when the Forest Ser¬
to the skills of pilot Marvin (Whitey)
vice truly felt like family. Every year new
Hachmeister and co-pilot John
recruits arrived to try their hand at the gru¬
Slingerland, both who lost their lives.
eling work of the backcountry and get to Three of the passenger victims were ca¬
know and experience this wonderfully reer employees: engineers Ronald Hagan
rugged country. and Robert “Andy” Taylor, and Moose
Aviation has been part of the Selway- Creek resource assistant Donald
Bitterroot Wilderness since 1932 when the Easthouse. Patrick McGreevey, Philip
first airstrip was completed at Moose Leber, Catherine Hodgin, and Robert
Creek. Clearing the strip of its thick veg¬ Cook were seasonal employees. Thomas
etation was difficult and took many hours Terkeurst was volunteering for the sum¬
of human muscle and mule power to ac¬ mer. Ten died, but their loss reverberated
complish the job. In 1959 the second, across the country, touching the lives of
hundreds.
longer airstrip was constructed.
Twenty years have passed, but those
We were anxiously awaiting the arrival
who lost their lives in the line of duty that
of the DC-3 when we got the word that
tragic day will not be forgotten. Please
something was wrong. Grangeville dis¬
take a moment to honor these fine people,
patch had lost contact with the plane.
forever members of our Forest Service
Everyone was shocked and felt helpless.
family.