Wildlands CPR Continues Partnership with Lolo National Forest

In the Beginning

In 2009, Wildlands CPR partnered with the Lolo National Forest (LNF) (Montana) to assess the condition of old roads, evaluate past road removal work, and document instances of illegal off-road vehicle use. Our work provided detailed information that enabled Forest Service planners to generate restoration project proposals addressing problems found in three different areas. For example, the Rennic-Stark project, roughly 30 miles west of Missoula, would decommission 25 miles of road, rehabilitate unauthorized ORV routes, and implement some vegetative management treatments. Two other projects, Antimony and Clear Creek, would  decommission 31 miles of roads, store 32 miles (keeping them for future use), remove or upgrade several culverts and conduct prescribed burning along with some tree thinning.

Using GPS devices, string boxes, clinometers, and other data collection methods Wildlands CPR provided the LNF with extensive and detailed road assessments. For example, our field crew recorded erosional hazards such as the presence and condition of culverts, fillslope failures, and roadbed erosion and gullying. They also recorded ecological data and documented instances of weed infestations and wildlife sign such as tracks and scat. Finally, they corrected old Forest Service maps that still showed roads that were no longer on the ground, or in some cases, they added old jammer roads that were not on the maps.

2010 Road Reconnaissance

The success of our 2009 efforts enabled Wildlands CPR to continue this work in two new areas of the LNF in 2010. The first project area, Mormon John, was just off Highway 12 west of the town of Lolo (MT). Our skilled field crew surveyed nearly 50 miles of roads, most of which were old timber harvest jammer  roads abandoned decades ago. Working with the LNF specialists, we refined our protocols to extrapolate conditions to assess more miles than by walking each individual road. Using this method, we generalized the condition of jammer roads based upon the lowest road in the complex or by walking drainages to survey for the presence of culverts. For example, if the road lowest on the hillside was stable and did not have any erosional concerns, we would assume all roads/crossings above to be similar.

For all roads in the area with problems, typical findings included erosional hazards such as plugged culverts with associated scouring at the inlet or outlet, cutslope/ fillslope failures, and roadbed erosion. We also found widespread instances of knapweed, and some areas with meadow hawkweed complex, and tall buttercup. Off-road vehicle (ORV) use and illegal route creation was prevalent in three distinct areas. There was a user-created route going up Mormon Peak ridge, accessed by going around ineffective barriers; here we found evidence of wood cutting and some erosion. We found a second cluster of ORV activity near the South Fork of Lolo Creek, where again the closure devices were ineffective. Finally, another ineffective closure allowed ORV use on a road in the Dick Creek Area. Using the new protocols, along with excellent support from LNF staff, we were able to complete all of the Mormon John assessment. We recorded sign or direct sightings of numerous wildlife species, including wolves, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The Center Horse area near Seeley Lake (MT) was the second place we worked. It includes lands formerly owned by the Plum Creek timber company and recently acquired by the Forest Service. Again, we surveyed around 50 miles of road for erosional hazards, noxious weeds, and wildlife sign, in addition to the partial surveys using the prioritization protocols. We found significant roads decommissioning in the project area especially around the headwaters of Dunham Creek, though often this only included the placement of waterbars one typically sees when the agency stores a road. However, treatments varied, with some entrances partially recontoured to the original slope, while other roads were fully recontoured. Some stream crossings were also restored, although in a few instances, more fill could have been removed. We commonly encountered this at stream crossing sites — future restoration efforts should pull back more fill. When we found problems with road conditions, they were similar to those found in the Mormon John area: plugged culverts, road bed erosion, cutslope/fillslope failures and infestations of knapweed, hawkweed and yellow toadflax. Interestingly though, we did not find any Dalmatian toadflax or tumble mustard. Also encouraging was the lack of ORV impacts or the presence of user-created routes, though there was one campsite with significant ORV use. We commonly encountered wildlife sign on most surveyed roads, including grizzly bear and two sightings of northern goshawks.

When compared to last year, we nearly doubled the miles surveyed and refined our assessment protocols to be more efficient. We anticipate the LNF will develop project proposals to address problems based on our results, leading to a less impactful road system.

Cost Share Agreements

With two field seasons completed, Wildlands CPR looks forward to maintaining our Forest Service partnership, possibly through the continuation of our Cost Share Agreement. This is a mechanism that acts like a contract in that it represents a binding agreement, but the total project costs are shared based on specific percentages; the LNF requires at least a 20 percent match. When looking for matching funds, it’s important to remember they must not come from or be administered by any federal agency, such as Resource Advisory Committee dollars. State agencies often have programs meant to improve fisheries or wildlife habitat or increase recreational opportunities that may have grant opportunities. Unfortunately, some state programs that administer federal funds cannot be used as a match, because they also come from federal sources.

Cost Share Agreements are nothing new to the Forest Service and in recent years more conservation groups and coalitions have used them to complete work germane to their specific interests. For example, Trout Unlimited has restored several stream miles affected by abandoned mines, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has an agreement that will increase elk foraging habitat. Cost Share Agreements may be an option for other organizations who want to implement specific projects in partnership with the Forest Service. Typically the agency favors this approach not only for the obvious cost-savings, but also as a way to increase its capacity, since these agreements free up forest staff and resources for other projects. Additionally, this is a good way to build relationships with agency staff and line officers.

Conclusion

This year’s Cost Share Agreement represents a continuing effort for Wildlands CPR. We’re collecting data the Forest Service needs to help inform projects that will lead to better functioning watersheds. Eventually we hope to expand on these efforts and develop specific services the Forest Service can rely upon when it comes to rightsizing its road system. Finally, we want to thank the Lolo National Forest for continuing this great partnership, and most importantly we want to thank our field crew — Adam Bender, Graham Byrd and Mo Essen — for all their fine work and diligence in the field.