Outdoor news
Lake gillnetting
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council has approved the most aggressive option in a plan to reduce the lake trout population in Flathead Lake, which is believed to be harming native fish. Following a public comment period, the council chose Alternative D, which calls for removing 140,000 lake trout each year by recreational fishing and gillnetting. The council said public comments “overwhelmingly favored the use of additional tools to reduce non-native lake trout.” The public will have another opportunity to comment when the Bureau of Indian Affairs releases a final environmental impact statement and tribal officials issue their final record of decision. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has expressed concerns about what gillnetting might accomplish and what harm it might cause to the Flathead Lake ecosystem.
Wildfire costs
Montana state forester Bob Harrington told legislators Sept. 12 that the state’s share of the cost of fighting wildfires this year was around $11 million, significantly down from the $60 million figure last year. About 192 square miles burned in Montana this year, compared to 18,750 last year. Some of the $40 million left in a reserve firefighting account could be used for fuel reduction work in risky areas, he said. Harrington credited occasional heavy rains that accompanied lightning storms and improved efforts by state and local firefighters in putting out fire starts.
River land acquisition
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1 is seeking comments for the Otter Island Fisheries Conservation Area Acquisition draft environmental assessment, a proposal to acquire 147 acres along the Flathead River, about 1 1/2 miles south of downtown Kalispell. The property would be donated to FWP by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The area would be managed by FWP for open space habitat and dispersed public recreation. The draft EA is out for public review through Oct. 9 at the Region 1 headquarters in Kalispell, the libraries in Bigfork and Kalispell and online at http://fwp.mt.gov under Public Notices. For more information, call fisheries biologist Kris Tempel at 751-4573 or e-mail ktempel@mt.gov.
Wilderness artists
The Flathead National Forest, Hockaday Museum of Art, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and Swan Ecosystem Center will host a reception for “Forest Inspirations: An Extension of the Artist-Wilderness-Connection Program” at Flathead Valley Community College’s Arts and Technology Building on Wednesday, Sept. 25, with light refreshments and live music at 5 p.m. There will be an opportunity to meet the 2012 artists, Jill Beauchesne Alban, Kim Kapalka and Mandy Mohler. The reception will be followed a formal presentation by all three artists. Artwork created since the program began in 2004 will be on display from Sept. 25 through Oct. 23. For more information, call Teresa Wenum at 758-5218.
Mushroom hunting
The Glacier Institute will offer a course led by Tim Wheeler called “Fall Mushroom Foray” on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22. The course will be a thorough introduction to edible mushrooms and the role fungi plays in the northern Rockies ecosystem. Students will learn to identify fungi, including how to discern between edible and poisonous mushrooms in the field. Cost is $170. For more information, call 755-1211 or visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org.
Forest trips
The Flathead National Forest will continue its public field trips as it works on the collaborative process of revising its Forest Plan. On Thursday, Sept. 26, a trip is planned to the Glacier View District to learn about inventoried roadless areas, recommended wilderness, and wild and scenic rivers. Call 758-5252 or e-mail Wade Muehlhof at ewmuehlhof@fs.fed.us to reserve a spot at least one day prior to the trip.