Missing folks at the chalet

Attended a gathering at the Belton Chalet Friday morning where our new congressman, Steve Daines, announced he will carry legislation in the House of Representatives supporting the bill in the U.S. Senate sponsored by Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester. Purpose of the bill is to protect the North Fork watershed.

I am not familiar enough with the bill to support or oppose it, but I was impressed by our new congressman. He mentioned that he and both of our senators meet for breakfast once a month with their chiefs of staff to discuss Montana issues.

He noted that despite their party labels, they are all Montanans and are united in their efforts to add to our economy while maintaining our lifestyles and natural beauty. I wish our entire Congress could set aside partisan politics as well.

We all share the need to protect our clean waters and provide a diverse array of jobs, including but not limited to wood products and recreation. I hope and believe we can have both, and I wish our representatives and our senators my best wishes in achieving these goals.

The gathering was interesting from the standpoint of who was there, but also who was not.

Environmental groups were present, as well as two or three North Forkers, a timber representative and a spokesman for the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Glacier National Park interim superintendent and folks from Whitefish city government.

I was surprised that neither the city of Columbia Falls nor the U.S. Forest Service were represented. Also missing was anyone from any state of Montana agency, even though both the departments of Natural Resources and Conservation and Fish, Wildlife and Parks have vital interest in the North Fork.

The Whitefish Range Partnership continues to work on a collaborative plan for presentation to the Flathead National Forest to aid them in putting together a new, updated Forest Plan. We have had interesting and informative meetings, and the diverse group has made excellent progress in discussions about weeds, the wild and scenic river corridor, and fire.

There is still a long way to go, but I think we all feel that the project is worth pursuing and will provide top-notch information to the Forest planning process. Whether or not polarization and politics will overwhelm the Forest Service — as it has in the past — remains to be seen.

In any event, the issues are too important to ignore, and our best hope is that concerned folks of all persuasions can address the issues, compromise and protect the North Fork for everyone. What do you think?