June 2010

Motorcycles Damage Missoula's Blue Mountain

Created by Adam Rissien on June 24, 2010

Today the Missoulian reported on damage caused by illegal motorcyclists in an area that the Montana Conservation Corps just finished rehabilitating. I was going post my two cents on this typical behavior, but in reading through the comments, I saw a response that pretty much sums it up:

The_Boneshackler said on: June 24, 2010, 9:51 am

2008-09 Forest Service Road Accomplishment Reports Now Available

Created by Bethanie Walder on June 23, 2010

For the past several years, Wildlands CPR has been posting the Forest Service’s annual Road Accomplishment Reports (RAR).  The RARs show how many miles of roads are maintained, improved, or decommissioned in any given year and on any given forest.  The RARs also show which funds were used to pay for the work.

Brief video on the politics of a restoration economy

Created by Cathrine Walters on June 23, 2010
Why should a climate change bill fund natural resource projects in your community? Scroll to the bottom of this article to watch a video to see what some green jobs experts have to say.

A Road Runs Through It exhibit opens at Missoula Art Museum

Created by Thomas R Petersen on June 22, 2010

Art and advocacy meld at the Missoula Art Musuem (MAM) with an exhibit of the Limited Collector's Edition of A Road Runs Through It, Wildlands CPR's anthology that includes contributors Annie Proulx, Peter Matthiessen, Barry Lopez, William Kittredge and 25 others.

USDA releases 5 year strategic plan

Created by Bethanie Walder on June 22, 2010
On June 11, 2010, the US Department of Agriculture released it’s 2010-2015 strategic plan, including it’s overarching plans for the Forest Service.  

Forest Service management was basically addressed in the second of the plans four goals:
Ensure our national forest and private working lands are conserved, restored, and made more resilient to climate change, while enhancing our water resources.

Road would slice huge Serengeti migration

Created by Thomas R Petersen on June 16, 2010

Chainsaws, excavators and restoration

Created by Bethanie Walder on June 14, 2010
I spent two days last week at a “Place-Based Forest Agreements and Law Symposium” here in Missoula.  The Symposium was sponsored by the National Forest Foundation and the University of Montana’s Bolle Center for People and Forests.  It was a thought-provoking and interesting two days, with lots of good discussion about excellent collaborative efforts going on around the country.  

Culvert Blowouts Close Forest Service Road

Created by Sarah Peters on June 11, 2010

On Saturday, June 5, two road blowouts from plugged culverts closed a popular route on the Custer National Forest outside of Red Lodge, Montana and dumped debris and sediment into the Main Fork of Rock Creek.  The road is closed indefinitely until repairs can be made.