Meetings set to discuss Breaks' management--(Montana)

CaptnKirk · 01-25-2006, 05:29 AM

Quote:

The public is invited to tell federal officials how best to manage the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.

Starting in mid-February, the Bureau of Land Management will host meetings to talk with the public about managing resources in the 375,000-acre monument.

In October the BLM released its management plan for the monument, and several public meetings were planned. The meetings were postponed because of severe weather and the holidays.

Several groups also asked the BLM to extend the comment period, so members could have more time to review the 500-page document. The agency agreed to accept comments for another 90-days. The public now has until April 26 to weigh in.

Matt Knox, chairman of Missouri River Stewards, said the extension was needed.

"The proposed draft plan is 2 inches thick, and there is a lot to digest," he said. "We are capable of going through it and finding the things we like and don't like, but we need time."

Knox said it is important that Montanans let the BLM know their thoughts on the management plan.

Jay Bodner, natural resource coordinator for the Montana Stockgrowers Association, also said the plan is important.

Livestock owners and anyone with an interest in federal lands should look at the proposal, he said.

"Some of the road closures have been an area of concern for a lot of folks," he said.

The draft plan includes a review of six alternative ways to manage BLM land in the monument. Roads, airstrips and the use of motorized boats on the river are a few of the issues addressed.

The plan's preferred alternative proposes closing 216 miles of roads and restricting travel on 171 more miles. Airplanes would be allowed to land year-round at two backcountry airstrips and to land at four others seasonally. Four other airstrips would be closed.

Based on the proposal, the recreation segments of the National Wild and Scenic River would be open to motorized watercraft year-round. Float planes and personal watercraft, or Jet Skis, would be allowed on the river for three miles around Fort Benton.

Chris Mehl, a spokesman for the Wilderness Society's Northern Rockies office, said he is pleased the BLM is hosting the public meetings.

"The monument is positioned to be a driver for the region, whether it's continuing to bring in recreation dollars because of incredible elk and bighorn that are there or floating the river or preserving the region so our grandkids can see it," he said. "We have a real opportunity to make the monument a top destination."

After the comment period closes, a proposed final management plan will be issued and approved, probably in late 2006. That will be followed by the final Record of Decision.

Great Falls Tribune

AWADawg · 01-26-2006, 11:51 AM

Captn...

You got the eye brother... You should work for the AWA...

What you may not know is that during the blizzard in November, your AWA trudged, dog sledded, snowboarded, hitch hiked, and tamed the Great White Buffalo to get to these meetings.

Imagine my surprise when I was the only sitting in the room wondering where everyone else was. That's how I found out the meetings had been cancelled. 2,000 miles I'd gone.

What this story only lightly touched on is the PWC ban. The real deal is: for no stated reason, other than it may offend the sensabilities of a few canoe people, PWC ARE TO BE BANNED on 147 miles of the Missouri River.

AWA has been working with members and dealers in the Big Sky country to say "Whoa... everything else can go on, but no PWC?....What the...?"
The "two inch" document states that PWC do not pose a problem, and are rarely even on the water to begin with..

This is all part of a greater move within public lands to ease out the Good People of the PWC Nation.

The AWA will attend some of the new meetings as we can afford to, and know this: we'll be all over this issue. We'll keep you in the loop.

Chris Manthos
AWA