KIPZ

Public Input

Planning Regs

Large Maps of WMPZ Preferred Options

Put cursor on lower left corner of map to enlarge. Click back button to return to this page.

Flathead

Bitteroot

Lolo

The Old and the New

Maps of the Flathead Forest comparing the old plan with the proposed new plan.

The Flathead has provided maps on the WMPZ website that show the forest marked with the new Management Area Descriptions. They also provided another map, called a crosswalk, that shows what the existing plan would look like on a map if the new descriptions were used instead of the old. By understanding the new descriptions and comparing how they would have been applied in the old plan and how they are likely to be used in the new plan we can see where the forest is going.

We plan on providing the same information for the Bitteroot and Lolo forests as soon as possible. However, the same planning team worked on all three forests so the overall philosophy is the same and it will have similar results in the end. BITTERROOT MAP LOLO MAP Put cursor on lower left corner of map to enlarge. Click back button to return to this page.

WILDERNESS IS GREEN WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ARE DARK BLUE		BACKCOUNTRY IS LT BLUE GENERAL FOREST IS BROWN
The three shades of brown represent areas, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1 where timber production is allowed. Many other activities are also allowed. Some harvest may occur in the backcountry, 2.2, areas but only to accomplish a non-timber purpose. The dark, medium and light shades of brown correspond to intensive, moderate and minimal management. The brown areas are referred to as general forest. The light blue represents backcountry areas, 2.2. Backcountry areas are generally roadless and unlogged. These areas are primarily non-motorized and unless the language is changed will become totally non-motorized when this gets to Judge Malloy The two shades of green represent wilderness: dark green is designated wilderness and the light is recommended for wilderness. Both will be managed the same as wilderness. All maps on these pages are produced by WMPZ and are available on their website. We have divided them for better viewing but the content has not been altered.

WMPZ Flathead PREFERRED OPTION

Flathead CROSSWALK TO EXISTING MANAGEMENT

IF YOU CLICK ON ONE OF THE THREE SECTORS OF THE STARTING OPTION MAP, WE WILL SHOW YOU A CLOSE UP COMPARISON OF THAT QUADRANT

The changes in forest management philosophy on the Flathead in particular and Region 1 in general are displayed here in color.

The following uses are increasing:

Dark Blue - Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers

There is a trend to compartmentalize the forest into special areas which is especially underscored by the increase in WSR River designation. Many of these new recommendations are very small creeks. Although the WSR statute does not define a size criteria for designation, we do not think the legislators had these small creeks in mind. It appears that the FS is anxious to put as much land as possible into special categories that then govern the management of that land. Once designated or recommended for these special uses, management decisions become much easier. Because the loss of management flexibility is a very large downside to special use designation, this tool should be used sparingly. However, the use of special use or category designation is proliferating on Western Montana forests.

Light Blue - Backcountry

This lumps inventoried roadless, unroaded and most of the other gated, kellyhumped and road rip lands into one category. These will be primarily non-motorized lands. "The primary Recreation Opportunity class is Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized." (see >>> Suitability Determinations). These lands are one short step away from wilderness recommendation and it is from these lands that the next round of wilderness recommendations will come.

Please notice that in the crosswalk most of these lands were limited to the North Fork. In fact much of that land was managed for uses other than backcountry in the original plan. It now appears that the backcountry area in the North Fork has decreased in the Preferred Option. But in fact most of it was recommended for wilderness and will be managed as wilderness.

The expansion of the backcountry areas (light blue) in the Columbia Mountain, Swan Crest and South Fork areas comes with the accompanying loss of general forest management. In other words, more restrictions, less use.

Light Green - Recommended Wilderness.

Designated wilderness on the Flathead (dark green) has not changed in over two decades, but areas recommended for wilderness by the FS has. These lands are then managed the same as wilderness until Congress acts; and it has been a long time since Congress took any action of this nature.

There have been some additions to the recommended areas surrounding the Bob Marshall and Great Bear. These are for the most part small and while probably not needed are insignificant compared to the gross expansion of wilderness planned for the North Fork.

The new, stand alone, wilderness recommendations in the North Fork when joined to the new Kootenai NF recommendation make up the wilderness demands of Montana Wilderness Assoc for this forest. The two forests have met roughly 90% of MWA's demand and MWA has had similar results on other forests. MWA calls this the Winton Wedemeyer Wilderness. Won't it be fun to tell your buddies you're goin huntin in the Winton.

The following are decreasing forest uses:

All shades of brown - General Forest

The general forest is where everybody gets to work and play. All uses are allowed, although they are usually regulated. Most, if not all, of the timber harvest and motorized recreation will occur on these lands. The management intensity on these lands will range from heavy through moderate to light (3 shades of brown).

Notice that the dark brown, intensive management, timber production and heavy motorized use, has disappeared from all lands east of HWY 93. Three out of five ranger districts, Hungry Horse, Glacier View, and Spotted Bear, no longer have this kind of management in their district. This is sea change in forest management on the Flathead.

The trend:

These two maps show how that the FS is moving to a more restrictive, less people friendly, more eco friendly philosophy of management. Most of the intensively managed lands (dark brown) will be managed less intensively (brown or light brown). Less heavily managed general forest lands are becoming backcountry. Backcountry is becoming wilderness. Motorized is becoming non-motorized. Open lands are being closed.