Paving, black carbon and wolves

Originally, the Interlocal Agreements for the North Fork were signed to provide a process for local residents and the general public where they would air their concerns and grievances with the local, state and federal agencies. After only a year or two, the Interlocal was expanded from one meeting per year to two so the agencies could bring their concerns to the private sector.

I guess it worked. At this winter’s Interlocal meeting, there were no concerns voiced by any of the landowner groups except by Ray Brown, chairman of the Coalition for Health and Safety — basically viewed as a pro-paving group.

As usual, Ray expressed concern about airborne pollutants (dust) impacting the river and roadside plants. He also noted that anti-dust chemicals are probably impacting water quality, especially in the spring. He, along with North Fork resident Joe Novak, felt that federal agencies, especially Glacier National Park, should be much more aggressive in monitoring air quality.

Glacier Park officials felt that more monitoring was desirable but cited money woes. They also noted that the Park is concerned about air and water quality and that Park employees constantly watch for signs of any kind of degradation of the Park caused by human activity. Black carbon from forest fires is considered natural, and the Park would not intercede even if glacial melt was affected by black carbon.

Other private groups — the North Fork Compact, the North Fork Preservation Association and the North Fork Landowners Association — raised no concerns but did give a report on their annual activities. As expected with their wider interests, the Landowners had the most to say, citing their fuels-mitigation activity, weed control, history project and extensive social activities.

As usual, the Flathead County Commissioners were not in attendance. Also as usual, they sent Dave Prunty, head of the Flathead County Public Works Department. He reported that the RAC-supported narrowing of the North Fork Road will be completed in the spring as well as the dust abatement.

Without a re-authorization of RAC, the county will no doubt revert to minimal maintenance in the years ahead, and although they admit the road from Trail Creek to the border is poor, the county has no plans for major work there due to limited funds and low traffic volume compared to other county roads that need work.

I was most impressed by the presentation of Tim Thier and Kent Laudon for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks — I always refer to them as Fur, Fins and Feathers since I liked the title Montana Fish and Game much better and still wish DNRC had the parks so that the agency could focus on fish and wildlife.

Tim has always been straightforward with his reports, and Kent is the state of Montana’s wolf expert for the North Fork and much of Western Montana. We all appreciated his frank and straightforward report, as well as his sense of humor. Hopefully, he will be invited to the North Fork next summer to help educate us about wolves.

More next week, including my view on wood permits, the snowmobile accord and outhouses.