Sometimes federal grants are good

In the last decade, the North Fork has been the recipient of a ton of federal grant money through the Secure Rural School and Community Self-Determination Act. The bill was originally passed for a three-year period and reauthorized for another three years. After that it has been reauthorized for one year at a time. Thus, the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), which allocates the monies on a local basis, has had to operate on a year-to-year basis not knowing whether or not it would be the last year of the program.

Congress recently reauthorized a one year extension which will see $323 million sent to 41 states and Puerto Rico. Flathead County will receive a little less than in previous years, so I’m hoping we will have a little more than $250,000.

Rules of the bill mandate that at least half of the money be spent on roads, trails and water quality. That’s why the North Fork Road has been improved in recent years. Flathead County has funded crushed rock and magnesium chloride from Camas Junction to Whale Creek (actually MgCl only to Polebridge) and the roadwork from Canyon Creek to Camas with RAC grants paying half and the county paying half.

In addition, RAC grants have funded all or paid off many other projects on the North Fork. First big road project included the Swift Creek bridge on Red Meadow Road, which is an important escape route from the North Fork in case the main road is closed by fire, flood or other disaster.

Less obvious are grants to maintain or reopen hiking trails, timber thinning projects and noxious weed control. In fact, three weed control projects received grants for next year, including the cooperative project, which is sponsored by the North Fork Landowners Association and North Fork Preservation Association, as well as Flathead County and the Forest Service.

This project includes mapping infestations and concentrates eradication efforts on areas of private property that adjoin public property. Without both private and public agency cooperation, no effort can be effective.

Also, one weed project addresses river access points. These two efforts, plus the county roadside spraying, are important in controlling noxious weeds, but RAC also funds projects to introduce insects which attack weeds only.

RAC grants have been also used for other county roads at Star Meadows and Ashley Lake, as well as many trails in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and improvements in public recreation areas like Lakeside and Whitefish.

I know there are a lot of debates about federal grants. I approve this one because the funds employ people here and improve recreational opportunities for years to come. What do you think?