A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR OUR PRAIRIE WILDLANDSwildmontana.org/downloads/wmfall2015.pdfTHE ROADLESS LESS...
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FALL 2015 A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR OUR PRAIRIE WILDLANDS Tony Bynum, www.tonybynum.com
Transcript of A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR OUR PRAIRIE WILDLANDSwildmontana.org/downloads/wmfall2015.pdfTHE ROADLESS LESS...
FALL 2015
A PIVOTAL MOMENTFOR OUR PRAIRIEWILDLANDS
Tony Byn
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Seeking the perfect getaway? Consider an adventure off the beaten path in eastern Montana.
First, make sure you take along Buttes, Breaks, and Badlands,MWA’s new geotourism map of southeast Montana and your guide to everything that makes this corner of the state special. Visit our online store at wildmontana.org to purchase your copy.
Second, speak up for the wild places you visit and be aware of how the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is managing those places.
In September, the BLM released its Record of Decision on the Hi-Line and Miles City Resource Management Plans (RMP),determining how the BLM will manage 5.2 million acres of publicland in eastern Montana for the next 20 to 30 years.
The Hi-Line RMP included healthy protections for sage grouse that went a long way towards protecting other wildlife andwilderness values on the landscape, such as primitive recreationand the opportunity to enjoy the amazing solitude you can find on the Hi-Line.
That’s the good news. Unfortunately, of the 400,000 acres the BLM identified as havingwilderness character on the Hi-Line, the agency plans to only manage 16,000 acres for their wilderness value. That will leave special places such as Carpenter Creek, Lower Grant Coulee, and Caravan Marsh Hawk Hills unprotected.
Out of more than 2.7 million acres covered by the MilesCity RMP, the BLM has chosen a mere 5,200 acres to be managed for its wilderness characteristics. That’s apaltry .2% of the 2.7 million acres the BLM manages insoutheast Montana.
So, get your Buttes, Breaks, and Badlands map and have an adventure in southeastMontana, but make note of your experiences and share those impressions with the BLM(the number of the state office is 406-896-5012). Tell your friends too! The more people whoenjoy and appreciate eastern Montana’s wildlands, the more likely we and our children andgrandchildren will continue to have wild places to experience in eastern Montana.
Enjoy, and Keep It Wild!
Montana Wilderness Association works with communities to protect Montana’s wilderness heritage, quiet beauty, andoutdoor traditions, now and for future generations.
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www.wildmontana.org
Montana Wilderness Association is a proud member of Montana Shares and sends a huge thanks to everyone who contributes to MWA through workplace giving. Montana Shares provides MWA with a reliable and consistent source of income from participants in workplace giving campaigns.
Montana Shares, PO Box 883, Helena, MT 59624 800-823-2625 [email protected] www.montanashares.org
Wild Montana is a publication of the Montana Wilderness Association. Excerpts may be reprinted with permission.Design and layout: Real World Design. Wild Montana is printed on recycled paper.
www.facebook.com/wildmontana
HELENA OFFICE
Brian Sybert, Ext. 104Executive [email protected]
John Gatchell, Ext. 106Federal Lands Policy [email protected]
Cedron Jones, Ext.112GIS Mapping [email protected]
Denny Lester, Ext. 105Creative Services and Technology Manager
Laura Parr, Ext. 110Business [email protected]
Sarah Shepard, Ext. 102Development [email protected]
Carl Dietchman, Ext. 104Finance [email protected]
Amanda Hagerty, Ext. 108Special Projects [email protected]
Molly Severtson, Ext. 103Donor Relations [email protected]
Ted Brewer, Ext. 109Communications [email protected]
Kelsee Dalton, Ext. 111Development [email protected]
James Sutcliffe, Ext. 101Development [email protected]
FIELD OFFICES
Billings Field OfficeCharlie SmilieEastern MT Field Director2822 3rd Avenue N. Suite 204Billings, MT [email protected]
Bozeman Field Office105 West Main St., Suite 2BBozeman, MT 59715406-404-1000
John ToddConservation [email protected]
Salley CatheySouthwest MT Field Director
Choteau Field OfficeCasey PerkinsRocky Mountain Front Field Director
P.O.Box 37Choteau, MT [email protected]
Great Falls Field OfficeMark Good Central MT Field Director1400 1st Ave. N.Great Falls, MT [email protected]
Libby Field OfficeAshley South108 East 4th St. Suite 205Libby, MT [email protected]
Missoula Field Office118 W. Broadway, Suite 1Missoula, MT 59802
Gabe FurshongDeputy [email protected]
Zack PorterWestern MT Field Director [email protected]
Kassia RandzioCommunity Engagement [email protected]
Clayton Elliott,State Policy [email protected]
Whitefish Field OfficeAmy RobinsonNorthwest MT Field Director750 2nd St. W, Suite AWhitefish, MT [email protected]
CDT ProgramShannon FreixCDT Program Manager912 2nd Ave W.Kalispell, MT [email protected]
Meg KillenCDT Field Crew [email protected]
Sonny MazzuloCDT Field [email protected]
OFFICERS
Lee Boman, Seeley LakePresident
Mark Hanson,MissoulaPresident Elect
Wayne Gardella, HelenaTreasurer
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Yve Bardwell, ChoteauScott Friskics, Great FallsBarb Harris, ClancyGerry Jennings, Great FallsLen Kopec, Augusta
Allison Linville,MissoulaAddrien Marx, Seeley LakeCharlie O’Leary, ButteRick Potts, MissoulaBernard Rose, Billings
Greg Schatz, Columbia FallsPatti Steinmuller, BozemanAlan Weltzien, DillonJo Ann Wright, Great Falls
80 S.Warren, Helena, MT 59601 • 406-443-7350 • [email protected]
PRAIRIE WILDLANDS
On the cover: Sun setting over the Frenchman Creek area, northwest of Glasgow.
SOUTHEASTMONTANAA new geotourism map features this often-overlooked corner of the state
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UPDATES FROM THE FIELDThe latest from MWA’s on-the-ground work around the state.
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FROM THE PRES IDENT AND EXECUT IVE D I RECTOR
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Eastern Wildlands Chapter2822 3rd Avenue N, Suite 204Billings, MT [email protected]
Flathead-Kootenai Chapter750 2nd St. W, Suite AWhitefish, MT [email protected]
Island Range Chapter1400 1st Ave. N.Great Falls, MT [email protected]
Madison-Gallatin Chapter105 West Main St., Suite 2BBozeman, MT [email protected]
Shining Mountains Chapter118 W. Broadway, Suite 1Missoula, MT [email protected]
Wild Divide Chapter80 S. WarrenHelena, MT [email protected]
Brian Sybert, MWAExecutive Director
Lee Boman,MWA President
Speak up for the wildplaces you visit and beaware of how the BLM ismanaging those places.
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areas left in the Great Plainswhere you can experiencethe buttes, breaks, badlands,coulees, island mountainranges, and open forests theway Lewis and Clark did in
the early 19th century or as CharlieRussell painted these lands in the early20th. Public lands in central andeastern Montana, home to some of the last unbroken prairie in all the Great Plains, offer that opportunity.
In September, the Bureau of LandManagement (BLM) released the finaldrafts of three resource management
plans (RMPs) that cover many of theselands, including those in the Hi-Line,Miles City, and Billings districts. Inaddition, we expect a draft RMPcovering central Montana’s LewistownDistrict in early 2016. Together, thesefour plans will guide the managementof several million acres of public landsacross the eastern two-thirds of thestate for the next 20 to 30 years.
MWA staff and volunteers have spenthundreds of hours in the field over thelast several years collecting data thatdemonstrates the wildness of landscapesacross these parts of the state. That data
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Refuge—are a few of the areas thatdidn’t receive protection as sagegrouse focal areas or as lands withwilderness characteristics. These areplaces where mule deer, elk, andbighorn sheep thrive and where youcan have a prairie experience thatrecalls Montana’s frontier history and culture.
This BLM district includes 2.8 millionacres of public lands scattered acrossmuch of the eastern portion of thestate. Like the Hi-Line plan, protectingsage grouse was a priority, but the plandidn’t come close to including all ofthe areas that need protection. In fact,this may be one of the least protectiveRMPs the BLM has issued since thebeginning of the Obama administration.
The BLM will protect 2.3 million acresas sage grouse habitat, though will still allow limited development on 1.4 million of those acres. The fieldoffice will manage only one area,
Devil’s Creek, for its wildernesscharacteristics—a mere 5,200 acres, or .2%, of the entire district.
Left out were almost all of the wild and remote public lands in southeastMontana, including Rough Creek andDry Creek, where buttes rise fromrolling hills and unbroken grasslands,places that offer rare opportunities toexperience profound solitude on ourhigh and lonesome prairie.
The BLM has a duty to manage ourlands for multiple values, and thatmeans protecting sage grouse as wellas wilderness.
MWA won’t give up on all the specialplaces the BLM chose not to protect inits RMPs and will continue to hold theagency’s feet to the fire as it releases itsdraft RMP for the Lewistown districtand the travel plans for the Hi-Line andMiles City districts. Working with ourmembers and partners, we will worktowards solutions that give wildernessthe long-term protection it needs.
has helped us make a forceful case for protecting our prairie wildlands. As a result of our work, the BLM hassignificantly increased the number of places it recognizes as “lands withwilderness characteristics,” a term the agency uses for places that are in a natural condition and provideopportunities for solitude andprimitive recreation.
All in all, the three plans released inSeptember are a mixed bag. The BLMmade a concerted effort to protectsage grouse and to avert their listing asan endangered species but gave far lessconsideration to explicitly protectingareas with wilderness characteristics.Here’s a short overview of the plansfor Hi-Line and Miles City districts:
Covering more than 2.4 million acres,BLM lands in the Hi-Line District stretchfrom the Sweet Grass Hills north ofChester to the Bitter Creek WildernessStudy Area northwest of Glasgow.
The BLM created a nearly one-million-acre “focal area” along the Hi-Line toprotect core sage grouse habitat. Anykind of surface-disturbing activities—such as oil and gas drilling, mining,new roads, transmission lines, andpipeline lines—are now prohibited,with no exception.
These focal areas include Marsh Hawk Hills, Long Coulee, andCarpenter Creek to the north of theC.M. Russel National Wildlife Refuge,as well as Frenchman Breaks to thenorth of Malta. Offering exceptionalhabitat for deer, elk, bighorn sheep,raptors, and upland birds, these areas will remain as they are into theforeseeable future as long as there’s aconcerted effort to protect sage grouse.
Unfortunately, the BLM has decided to manage only a tiny fraction of theHi-Line’s public lands explicitly fortheir wilderness character. CarpenterCreek, Lower Grant Coulee, andCaravan Marsh Hawk Hills—all northof the C.M. Russell National Wildlife
Frenchman Breaks area north of Malta(above) offers exceptional habitat forbighorn sheep, as well as deer, elk,raptors, and upland birds.
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OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN SOUTHEASTMONTANAMWA’s new geotourism map of southeast Montana is your guide to everything that makes this corner of the state an adventurous and enriching destination.
National Geographic defines geotourism as “tourism thatsustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.”
Following National Geographic’s lead, MWA presents Buttes, Breaks and Badlands: Off the Beaten Path in SoutheastMontana, a geotourism map of this beautiful corner of ourstate and the perfect companion for exploring its unspoiledlandscapes, rich history, and colorful communities, includingmuseums, eateries, and more. Here’s a sampling of the many fantastic destinations you can visit with our map asyour guide. To learn more about the map or to order one, please visit wildmontana.org or call Amanda Hagerty at 406-443-7350.
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Looking out over Chalk Buttes near Ekalaka The map features a wealth of wildlands, eateries, and museums all the way from Bridger to Sidney, from the Pryor Mountains to Makoshika State Park.
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The Carter CountyMuseum in Ekalaka, atreasure trove of homesteading history,Native American artifacts,and paleontology.
The Tongue River Breaks near Ashland
Pronghorns in thePowder River Valleynear Broadus.
Capitol Rock National Natural Landmark near Ekalaka
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BUNKER & UPPER SULLIVAN CREEK — A LOGICALADDITION TO THE BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS
Located in the Swan Range south of the Jewel Basin and adjacent to the treasured BobMarshall Wilderness, Bunker and upper Sullivan Creek is one of those areas that not toomany people seek out as a destination. It’s remote and it’s hard to get to. As such, it servesas outstanding wildlife habitat. The U.S. Forest Service appears poised, however, not to recommend Bunker and upperSullivan for wilderness in its forest plan. We need to change the agency’s mind. In 1983 renowned biologist Doug Chadwick wrote about the importance of Sullivan andBunker Creeks as travel corridors for mountain goats, grizzly bears, and wolverines. Hehighlighted the importance of protecting the North Fork of Bunker Creek, particularly nearBruce Ridge, which he describes as “a major travel corridor for goats, grizzlies, and elkmoving from Bunker and Addition Creeks up toward Thunderbolt Mountain and across into Lost Creek.” One year later, Gerald Stokes, the Recreation, Wilderness and Lands Staff Officer for the Flathead National Forest, concluded that this area should be added to the Bob Marshall Wilderness. In 1985 The Wilderness Institute wrote, “There is no question in our minds thatBond/Bunker Creek has the prerequisite qualities necessary for consideration aswilderness. Bond/Bunker Creek provides outstanding opportunities for solitude as well asprimitive and unconfined recreation…. The area appears primarily affected by the forces of nature.” John Weaver, a biologist for Wildlife Conservation Society, recently described this areaas being “especially important” for wildlife. Today the Forest Service manages this area as grizzly core habitat, but still doesn’t thinkit should be managed as wilderness. To change course, the agency needs to understandthat broad support for wilderness has existed for decades and exists today. Please share your story, your heart, and your support for the protection of Bunker andupper Sullivan Creeks. Contact me today at arobinson@wildmontana or submit youropinions to Forest Supervisor Chip Weber at [email protected].
–Amy Robinson, northwest Montana field director
TEN YEARS STRONG IN THE BLACKFOOT
In 2005 snowmobilers and wilderness advocates in the Blackfoot set aside theirdifferences and agreed to a proposal that added more wilderness in exchange for anestablished winter recreation area. This year we celebrate the ten-year-anniversary of this collaborative effort that wouldgo on to be called the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project. Soon after that 2005 agreement, the group began attracting outfitters, wildlifeadvocates, community leaders, and timber industry representatives. By 2008, the groupreached consensus on a suite of forest management goals, including the addition of 90,000 acres to the Mission Mountains, Scapegoat, and Bob Marshall Wilderness Areas, a move that would safeguard the West Fork of the Clearwater River (a stream crucial forbull trout) and the wildlife-rich slopes of the Swan Range above Seeley Lake. A year later, Sen. Jon Tester stood in front of the Seeley Lake Chamber of Commerceand announced that he had selected the Blackfoot Clearwater proposal as one of three hewould wrap into the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. Though FJRA has yet to be passed,the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project is stronger than ever and has become thestandard for collaborative efforts in the West. Over the past six months, MWA has helped guide the collaborative through revisions to its proposal. The group will take its renewed agreement on tour this fall to showcase its strong support and encourage our congressional delegation to prioritize our proposal. Join us this winter for events in Missoula, Ovando, and Seeley Lake to learn how youcan help get this innovative effort across the finish line. Also, contact Sen. Tester at (202) 224-2644, Sen. Steve Daines at (202) 224-2651, and Rep. Ryan Zinke at (202) 225-3211and let them know that you want to see ten-years of collaboration pay off in the Blackfoot. For more information about the upcoming events in Missoula, Ovando, and Seeley Lake,visit wildmontana.org.
–Zack Porter, western Montana field director
UPDATES FROM THE F IELD
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Sullivan andBunker Creeksare importanttravel corridorsfor mountaingoats, grizzlybears, andwolverines.
BlackfootValley wetlands near Ovando
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BUTTE BEAVERHEADAREAShawn Christensen John Fort Fred Josozvich Mark & Abbie Phillip
EASTERN WILDLANDS CHAPTERCora Crecelius Shirley McDonald
FLATHEAD-KOOTENAI CHAPTERShandra Anderson June Burgau Scott Daniels Wm. Fred Frost & Natalie Neckumann
Paul Heitschmidt Kurt Kress Mary Kujawa Fred Lebow David Leishman Shelley & Abe McCoy Marlin McKeever
ISLAND RANGECHAPTERVirginia Abbott Peter Briant Mitch Forsyth Larry Gannon & Trudi Gannon
Sandra Kempa Kaylee Lewis Josy McLean Tamara Podry Maggie Carr
MADISON-GALLATIN CHAPTERJohn Baden Barbara Brill Jeanne Dehart Jessica Geary Ann Halverson Scott Hamburg Dixie Hooper Billy Howard Malcolm Kay Spencer Kirkemo Sarah Lingo James Martin Ellen Ornitz Metta Ravenheart Louise Weldon
SHINING MOUNTAINS CHAPTERChelsea Angel Sarah Barnes James Boyle James & Elaine Brock Edward Brown C Diane Conner Emily Dubrawski Silke Jauck Arlene Tande
WILD DIVIDE CHAPTERChristina Ardary Maureen & Lawrence Cole
Sally & Josh Dickinson Emma Elson Richard Gilsoul
John Murray Philip Tullis Van’s Thriftway
OUT OF STATEEvelyn & Frank Ansley Sheila Bowley Kenneth & Linda Briggs Shirley Call Robert & Diana GillespieRobert & Jessica Gilliam Bridget Johnson Neil Kiernan Gayle Kravik-Blair Ann Mackaben Robert & Patricia Mazzullo
Kelly Posewitz Karen & Vince Rizzo Ben Tickle
MEMBERS MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLEThanks to the new members who joined Montana Wilderness Association from July 8 to October 9, 2015.
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A BUSY SEASON IN THE BADGER
The end of summer and early fall brought an abundance of changes to the Badger-TwoMedicine area, including a landmark recommendation by a federal panel and the end ofanother trail-stewardship season for a group of Blackfeet youth. This August, MWA expanded our commitment to the youth of the Blackfeet Reservationby creating two trail crews that each worked for two weeks. In all, 10 young people helpedclear and maintain trails in the southern region of the Badger, near Swift Dam. The crewsworked hard, had a great time, and learned about conservation issues and opportunitiesfrom camp guests. They also forged lasting connections with this sacred landscape,connections that will help them safeguard this important wild place as the work towardpermanent protection begins. On the heels of this successful summer program came an unprecedented field hearingin Choteau held by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). This federal panelcame to Choteau to gather public input regarding proposed oil and gas development in the Badger. MWA partnered with the Blackfeet Tribe to get the word out. As a result, more than 100 people packed the room on September 2. All but one speaker, the lawyerrepresenting the company that wants to drill in the Badger, called for the cancellation of all remaining leases in the Badger, citing the Badger’s tremendous spiritual, cultural,historical, and ecological values. Heeding this call for cancellation, ACHP urged the Departments of Interior andAgriculture to work together to ensure development never takes place in the Badger. We expect Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell to decide in the next month whetherdrilling should or should not occur in the Badger. Stay tuned for more exciting news on the Badger and visit wildmontana.org for the most up-to-date information.
–Casey Perkins, Rocky Mountain Front field director
PARTNERING FOR THE WILDMystery Ranch has joined forces with MWA to protect Montana’s wildlands. Mystery Ranch is donating 5% of sales of its Metcalf and Marshall Wilderness Packs to ensure that we have plenty of places to roam with nothing but our wits and a great backpack.
www.mysteryranch.com
UPDATES FROM THE F IELD
Why am I a member?Because we can’tafford to lose a singlewild acre. There’s far too little wild landleft. Plus, I lovevolunteering on theContinental Divide Trail,where you see no trail orpoor trail at the beginning of theweek and new trail at the end. I enjoy the accomplishment ofdoing something good for thewildlands and the people whowant to traverse these places in a quiet way. And, of course, I really enjoy the people.
–Karen Porter, Butte, MT
WHY I
GIVE
MWA HIRES NEW EASTERN MONTANA FIELD DIRECTOR
MWA is pleased to welcome our new eastern Montana field director, Charlie Smillie. A third-generation Montanan, Charlie was born and raised in Billings. Hisgrandmother Marie was a schoolteacher in Ekalaka before moving to Glendive,
where she raised Charlie’s mother Margie and her five siblings. Before departing for the University of Montana’s College of Forestry
& Conservation, he developed a deep appreciation of eastern Montana.Both the vast, subtle beauty of the High Plains and the grandeur of the soaring Beartooths shaped his outlook as he worked on behalf ofwilderness with the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation andSouthern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards.
As a newly minted MWA field director back in his hometown, Charliewill work creatively to enrich the community of Montanans who value ourprairie wildlands for their ecology, history, recreational opportunity, and, of course, their sheer beauty.
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