No outhouses in RAC project list

The Resource Advisory committee (RAC) has been reauthorized for one year. Previous reauthorizations have all been for three years, so this year’s federal dollars may well be the last. Of course, we were told last year that the 2012 monies would be the end of the program, so who knows?

At any rate, the North Fork has received a great amount of money over the years helping to fund road work, battle weeds, thin timber, repair trails and, no doubt, things I have forgotten. Because we have received so much in recent years, we should not really be surprised at the low number of North Fork requests this year.

Flathead County has only requested funding for eight miles of dust abatement, from Camas Junction to Polebridge. I had hoped for dust abatement to Whale Creek and crushed rock from Whale Creek to Trail Creek. Instead, the county road department focused on Ashley Creek Road for this year’s requests, and I cannot really disagree.

Other North Fork requests are Tuchuck Mountain Trail, $13,200; North Fork weed mapping and control $10,600; river access weed control $10,700; Big Creek Ranger Station, Glacier Institute, $31,000 for a vault toilet (outhouse). RAC has less money than usual, $275,000, so all requests will not be granted, but results will be known by October 2012.

I was so disappointed that there was no request from the Glacier View Ranger District for fixing the boat launch sites at the border and Ford, or for toilets at Sondreson Meadows. So disappointed, I made a trip to the Glacier View Ranger Station to get some answers.

First of all, there are plans to add a third rail at the boat launches. That improvement was scheduled for completion this year, but budgeted funds were needed for firefighting. The job is in the budget and, subject to engineering modifications, will be done next spring.

As for outhouses, due to the need in multiple locations — not just Sondreson Meadows — the ranger district is going to work within current regulations to try to control sanitation needs. They are: “Solid human waster must be self-contained and packed out to an approved disposal site during overnight stays at locations without toilet facilities along the river.”

This applies whether you are part of a traditional float party or vehicle-supported party. This means 1) using a washable, leak-proof, reusable toilet system and waste must be disposed of at a proper waste facility, such as an RV dump station, or 2) a disposable biodegradable bag toilet system that is approved for landfill disposal. Dumping solid human waste on National Forest lands or into a vault toilet is prohibited.

The above rules are enforced by regular U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers and Forest Service protection officers. Fine is $100 for any violation of the above rules.

In other words, bears can do it, but humans better not get caught doing it. I hope it works, but I have my doubts.

What do you think?