Forest Service needs to rethink Blacktail policy

I’ve lived on Blacktail Mountain for the better part of 24 years and the recent Forest Service decision to expand motorized recreation on the mountain is the worst possible outcome for the local residents, who are tired of the noise, dust, traffic, trash and damage from current off-road vehicle use. While the Forest Service thinks this is a done deal, it is not.

Many of us on this mountain and in the general area will continue fighting this project and we invite others to help by writing letters to the editor, to local senators and representatives, and especially the one who authorized this project, Swan Lake District Ranger Rich Kehr, 200 Ranger Road, Bigfork, MT 59911.

The inconspicuously named “Island Unit Trails Addition Project” adds over 40 miles of new motorized trails to the 127 miles of roads already available in the Blacktail Mountain area for motorized recreation; this doesn’t even count the 10.3 mile Wild Bill OHV Trail. Well before this off-road vehicle expansion project, Blacktail Mountain was becoming a motorized sacrifice zone with an atmosphere of lawlessness pervading the area. People routinely shoot down the signs, ignore gates, leave their trash strewn across the forest floor inclusive of Stoner Creek, a tributary to Flathead Lake, driving wherever they like. The resulting damage is out of hand with the proliferation of user-created routes, damaged trails and rutted roads that were closed in the first place to protect wildlife.

Instead of addressing the problem, the Forest Service response is to reward the scofflaws with more motorized trails. This is backwards. The agency should demonstrate they can get a handle on the illegal behavior before allowing more motorized opportunities. Unfortunately, it is clear that agency managers believe expanding off-road vehicle use will convince people to follow the rules. This rarely, if ever, works and often results in more illegal activity.

It should be noted this project will certainly have a significant negative impact on the wildlife and hunting in and around the immediate area. Lack of law enforcement presently poses a major challenge in this area; however, in their environmental assessment, page 3-133, it states, “It would not be reasonable to assume or assert that the Flathead National Forest would have the ability to provide a significant increase in law enforcement patrol presence on the Island Unit” (aka Blacktail Mountain).

The spread of existing noxious weeds and increased fire danger would be of serious concern.

Until the Forest Service proves it can manage motorized use properly, we are going to continue the fight.

Leslie Gray,

Lakeside