From the Wednesday, May 3, 2006 online edition of the Hungry Horse News . . .
The Flathead National Forest Monday released its proposed management plan - a document designed to steer, but not necessarily dictate, how it will manage the Forest in the next 10 years.
The plan looks at everything from timber harvest to new areas recommended for wilderness.
The plan parcels out the forest under several different categories, from timber harvest lands to wilderness and a host of other uses in between . . .
Suitable timber harvest lands include lands in the Swan Valley that checkerboard with Plum Creek lands, land up the North Fork outside of recommended wilderness areas and lands in the Tally Lake and areas south of Kalispell . . .
In the North Fork, about 67,000 acres of land north of Red Meadow Creek to almost Canada are recommended wilderness . . .
. . . there will be another round of public comment periods starting soon.
Open houses for the Flathead are May 22 and June 15 at the West Coast Kalispell Center from 4 to 8 p.m. and then June 17 at the Kalispell High School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The final plan is expected this fall.
You can view the entire document at www.fs.fed.us/r1/wmpz, which includes maps and more detailed information.
Written comments can be sent to:
Proposed Land Management Plan
Bitterroot National Forest
1801 N. First Street
Hamilton, MT 59840.
The Forest Service will also mail a CD of the plan to folks who request one.
Read the entire article . . .