Blog Archives for Montana

By Adam Rissien - February 19, 2010    Today we joined with the Pryors Coalition in challenging the Custer National Forest's Beartooth Travel Plan. In the Pryor Mountains, the Forest Service designated 124 miles (99%) of roads and trails for motorized use, and less than one and a half miles (1%) for those who rely on a quiet setting to enjoy traditional Montana activities.  There are eight designated motorized routes up the south and west slopes of Big Pryor Mountain and no quiet trails.

By Adam Rissien - February 2, 2010    The Ravalli Republic ran a story about how a four wheeler drove around gates closing the Forest Service roads to motor vehicles in the Como Lake area on the Bitterroot National Forest.

By Adam Rissien - January 15, 2010    Sentencing happened yesterday for a Livingston, MT man who illegally created an off-road vehicle route back in 2006: see Livingston man admits making illegal trail in forest. Francis Leroy McLain ,60, originally was indicted on a felony and faced a maximum one year in prison and $100,000 fine. After the ususal plea-bargaining his sentence was reduced to five months in federal prison, a $2,000 fine and $25,000 in restitution for damage.

By Sarah Peters - December 23, 2009    Today Judge Molloy signed a settlement agreement between Wildlands CPR, Friends of the Bitterroot, and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest that removes authorization for snowmobile grooming in the northern half of the West Pioneers Wilderness Study Area for the 2009-2010 season, and terminates the authorization entirely after the present season. 

By Adam Rissien - December 9, 2009    Wildlands CPR worked with Montanans for Quiet Recreation this past summer helping to coordinate off-road vehicle monitoring on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.  Overall, MQR conducted or received monitoring data on 28 trails and areas, and collected 322 pictures showing a variety of ORV impacts as well as signs, closure devices and scenic views. Some of the worst damage was found at trailheads leading into in the West Pioneer WSA, and from user-created routes in the East Pioneer IRA.

By Adam Rissien - November 17, 2009    US District Judge Donald Molloy recently ruled against the Gallatin National Forest's proposal to allow snowmobiles into the Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area (read more here). The ruling centered around the agency's inability to prove that it was preserving wilderness character when it increased the area for snowmobile use inside the WSA.

By Bethanie Walder - October 7, 2009    I spent the last two days at the Western Governor’s Association (WGA) Wildlife Council (WGWC) meeting in Helena.  The meeting focused on progress toward implementing a resolution for improving wildlife connectivity and linkage zones across the western states.

By Bethanie Walder - October 2, 2009    Last week the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, in partnership with the MT Dept of Natural Resources, released a new report entitled: An Estimation of Montana’s Restoration Economy.   The  purpose of the project was to “estimate the economic activity resulting from public spending on restoration activities in Montana.”

By Adam Rissien - May 22, 2009   Wildlands CPR filed an appeal this week on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Revised Forest Plan, citing several flaws in the final decision and supporting analysis. Joining us in our appeal was the Winter Wildlands Alliance, Friends of the Bitterroot and Montanans for Quiet Recreation.  

By Bethanie Walder - May 6, 2009