More opposition to Bunker Park cabins

Two more conservation organizations have raised concerns about a Forest Service proposal to build cabins near Bunker Creek on the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, noting the potential impacts to wintering wildlife and the possibility of motorized trespass in the wilderness during the winter.

Earlier this month the Spotted Bear Ranger District announced it was considering building four rental cabins at the Bunker Park campground.

Bunker Park is less than a mile from the northwest boundary of the Bob Marshall Wilderness and is also close to the recommended wilderness at Bunker Creek, a couple miles to the west.

The Forest Service proposes allowing winter motorized use via snowmobile to the cabins, which would serve about six guests apiece.

The cabins would be available from May 21 to March 31 each year.

Since the site was razed by the Bear Creek Fire in 2015, it has seen diminished

use by campers, said Spotted Bear District Ranger Scott Snelson.

The National Parks Conservation Association objects to the project on several fronts.

“As currently proposed, these cabins would be open all year and only accessible by snowmobile in the winter, which will increase human use of the area and create the

potential for trespass by snowmobiles into the Bob Marshall Wilderness and recommended wilderness … Bunker Park sits at the edge of secure winter range habitat for multiple ungulate species including elk and mountain goats, the entire area is designated critical habitat for lynx, Bunker Creek itself is designated as critical habitat for bull trout and is adjacent to known wolverine denning sites,” NPCA notes in an objection letter sent to the Forest Service and shared with the Hungry Horse News. There is also concern about grizzly bears. “This proposed project raises concerns about the Forest’s interpretation of recreational infrastructure development in accordance with the Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy. If these proposed cabins take the Bunker Bear Management Unit above the 2011 baseline for recreation infrastructure (which was 17 cabins), then the forest needs to address the impacts to grizzly bears in a much more substantial way. The Bunker Creek drainage is an important grizzly bear corridor with known grizzly bear activity at the existing campground and proposed construction site,” it claims.

NPCA also takes issue with the Forest Service’s assertion that the project can be built under a “categorical exclusion” meaning it

would not have to go through a more robust environmental review, such as an environmental assessment.

It notes that the current rules the Forest Service is basing its argument on for not doing an environmental review are being litigated and the Biden Administration is also scrutinizing rules, which were done in the Trump Administration.

“The Forest needs to produce the supporting records that clearly show that replacing an existing lightly used tent/trailer camping area with four rental cabins does not have an impact on wildlife, wilderness and forest resources through a proper EA or EIS,” NPCA maintains.

NPCA also has concerns with the Forest Service not revealing who the private donors are that have shown a willingness to build the cabins.

Snelson told the Hungry Horse News that a non governmental organization was interested in the project, but he wouldn’t reveal who it was. The NPCA letter was written by Sarah Lundstrom, the Glacier program manager of NPCA.

The Montana Wilderness Association also has concerns, said Northwest Montana Field Director Allie Maloney.

While MWA doesn’t necessarily object to cabins, per se, there needs to be a more robust and thorough environmental review, Maloney said.

“Let’s have a good robust public process,” Maloney said. Having said that, Maloney said she didn’t think the cabins were “quite the right place for it,” and raised similar concerns about winter trespass into the Bob and the recommended wilderness of Bunker.

“It seems like it’s inviting trespass,” she said.

The public comment period on the proposal ends April 6.

Comments can be sent to: Scott Snelson - District Ranger Spotted Bear Ranger District P.O. Box 190340 Hungry Horse, MT 59919 or by email at: comments-northern-flathead- spotted-bear@usda. gov