An End to Snowmobile Grooming in the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area

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. 

If the Beaverhead-Deerlodge wishes to authorize snowmobile grooming in the West Pioneers in the future, the agreement allows the Forest Service to do so after appropriate public involvement and environmental analysis.  Next time grooming is discussed in the WSA, it will be an open process that fully acknowledges the impacts of the authorized use.

All parties were happy with the arraingement, which will allow for a more gradual decline in snowmobile grooming in the area and give locals time to adjust to the decrease in groomed trails.

While snowmobiles will still be permitted in the area, the decrease in groomed trails in critical wildlife areas will very likely decrease the number of snowmobiles that will access those areas.  

You can read more about the settlement details in the "Our News" section of our website.