Co-Sponsor Wilderness
FOREST JOBS AND RECREATION ACT
Neighbors working with neighbors across Montana
Neighbors working with neighbors across Montana
On July 17, 2009 Senator Jon Tester introduced the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act which includes our Three Rivers Challenge map of common ground. On October 26, 2009 Senator Max Baucus announced his cosponsorship of this historic bill. You can see the maps here. For reading the legislation and to become a citizen cosponsor, please go to www.tester.senate.gov/legislation. To see more details about the partners and the process, go to www.montanaforests.org. In the Yaak, this legislation will do the following:
Creates the Three Rivers Special Management Area. This management area makes the following permanent designations for wilderness and recreation:
- Roderick Wilderness
- North face of Roderick Traditional Use Area
- Mt. Henry Back-country Area
- Murphy Mountain Back-country Ski Area
- Northwest Peaks Special Management area – snowmobile and nonmotorized recreation area
- Directs an ATV study which will find opportunities for non-controversial routes and loop routes across the Three Rivers District and adjacent areas on the Kootenai National Forest
This management area allows the following for landscape restoration:
- Steers logging to areas that are already roaded and requires habitat restoration through reduction in road densities, while also reducing fire risk near communities
- Allocates funds to improve fisheries, water quality and wildlife habitat
- Directs the USFS to harvest more timber and accomplish more restoration work.
- Sets enforceable acreage requirements for mechanical treatment. In our area this would be 3000 acres per year across Three Rivers District and adjacent areas of the Kootenai National Forest. There has been some confusion about this number and where the treatments would be focused.
- The legislation is consistent with all environmental laws, policies and regulations including NEPA, endangered species act, habitat protections for grizzly bears, and the national roadless policies and directives.
- Requires use of Stewardship Contracts to accomplish restoration objectives resulting in a more predictable flow of wood products.
