February 2010

Grizzly kills follow Canadian Roads

Created by Thomas R Petersen on February 26, 2010

Canada's grizzly bears are in the news again, and this time not directly because of the controversial bear hunt, but because of "...massive hunting mortality along B.C.'s highways."

Chief Tidwell discusses right-sizing the Forest Service road system

Created by Bethanie Walder on February 26, 2010

Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell spent some time on Capitol Hill this week explaining the Forest Service’s proposed 2011 budget with Congressional appropriators and oversight committees.   The new budget proposes to pool numerous existing line items into one large “Integrated Resource Restoration” (IRR) program.  The idea is that this would enable the agency to move forward more effectively toward all restoration objectives, including watershed restoration.

Wildlands CPR updates Bibliographic Database

Created by Greg Peters on February 23, 2010
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New Study Points to Off-Road Vehicle Activity as Primary Source of Air Pollution at Nipomo Mesa, California

Created by Bethanie Walder on February 23, 2010
New Study Points to Off-Road Vehicle Activity as Primary Source of Air Pollution at Nipomo Mesa, California

The San Luis Obispo Air Control Board released a study yesterday (Feb 22) on the impacts of off-road vehicle use at the Oceano Dunes and the resultant air pollution at the nearby Nipomo Mesa.  The study was initially slated for release in December 2009, but was postponed until this week.

Politicians recognize the importance of watershed restoration

Created by Greg Peters on February 22, 2010
At the tail end of 2009, two prominent political bodies, the Western Governors Association (WGA) and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) each sent letters to the USDA extolling watershed restoration, the Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Initiative, and "Right-Sizing" the Forest Road System.

Suit seeks to scale back offroad use in Pryors

Created by Adam Rissien on February 22, 2010

By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press | Posted: Saturday, February 20, 2010 12:00 am

BILLINGS — Conservationists and backcountry horse riders headed to federal court Friday, seeking to stop motorized vehicle use in much of southern Montana’s Pryor Mountains, a popular destination for off-road vehicle users.

Several groups, acting jointly as the Pryors Coalition, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Missoula, challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s 2008 travel plan for the 125-square-mile mountain range.

Wildlands CPR Joins Pryors Coalition Challenging Beartooth Travel Plan

Created by Adam Rissien on February 19, 2010
FOR IMMDEDIATE RELEASE    2-19-2010

Contact: Dick Walton, Pryors Coalition, 406- 656-9064
Adam Rissien, Wildlands CPR, 406-543-9551
Matthew Bishop, Western Environmental Law Center, 406-324-8011

BROAD COALITION SEEKS QUIET TRAILS

Billings, MT – A coalition of hikers, horseback riders, birders and conservationists – known as the Pryors Coalition -- today challenged Custer National Forest’s Beartooth Travel Plan in US District Court. In its final decision, the Forest Service failed to adequately protect the

Good news in Canada isn't just about Olympics

Created by Thomas R Petersen on February 19, 2010

Seven of Canada's Rocky Mt. National Parks are getting a total of $945,000 to fix culverts that block fish from entering important mountain streams, which will improve aquatic connectivity.

Wildlands CPR Joins Pryor Coalition Challenging Beartooth Travel Plan

Created by Adam Rissien on February 19, 2010

Hunter thoughts on off-road vehicle penalties

Created by Bethanie Walder on February 11, 2010

Eastmans’ Hunting Journal recently posted a poll to their readers about ATV violations and penalties.  While it’s not a scientific poll, and they didn’t list how many people responded to the poll, the hunters who did respond overwhelmingly supported stronger penalties for ATV violations.  The results were released in the February/March 2010 issue of the journal.

Here are just a few of the quotes from respondents that Eastmans highlighted: