Montanans in the Eureka and Fortine area of Lincoln County have organized a new chapter of Montanans For Multiple Use because we recognize that as individuals we have been ignored by the Kootenai N.F. .  Therefore we must organize to make OUR voice  heard in support of public access and multiple use.  

Our chapter will focus on multiple use issues in this area as well as provide support for the larger issues that MFMU is dealing with.   This page and those linked below it will provide the public and our members with information about NLCC and its activities.

Our first priorities are:

1. Membership

2. Opening the Graves Creek Road

3. Opposition to the Lincoln County Coalition plan for wilderness

4. Assuring that all forms of public access is protected and that the principles of multiple use are followed in the new planning process for the Murphy Lake District east of HWY 93.

OUR NEW MEETING TIME IS 7 PM ON  THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT THE FORTINE SCHOOL. 

GRAVES CREEK ROAD REPAIRS
In the fall of 2006, severe flooding washed out the Graves Cr. Rd in two places.  After the flood there was no way to drive to the North Fork or to Therriault Lakes.  This road needed to be opened for firefighting, recreation, homeland security and emergency escape for the North Fork residents so NLCC worked to persuade the USFS to take immediate action with temporary repairs.  You can read Murphy Lake Ranger Betty Holder's original report on this situation  >> HERE.    MFMU volunteered to stabilize the lower washout to prevent loss of the road bed and thus speed reconstruction.  The road is now open.  We believe the NLCC played are large part in speeding up the opening which was originally forecast for 2008.  You can see pictures of our volunteer "Grave Creek Shovel Brigade" and learn more about the opening of the road >>HERE<<      

LINCOLN COUNTY COALITION
The Lincoln County Coalition was formed by the Yaak Valley Forest Coalition whose purpose is environmental preservation.  Robyn King, the president of YVFC is the facilitator of Lincoln County Coalition.  With support from Montana Wilderness Assoc and other green groups they came up with the idea of presenting a bill to Congress for wilderness designation that includes provisions for recreation and timber harvest.  The problem with the proposal they have come up with is that while it provides absolute guarantees for the designated wilderness, their are no similar guarantees for recreation or timber harvest.  

However, the proposal is still being worked on.  We will work to make to make this proposal as good for recreation and jobs as it is for wilderness or we will oppose it.  In addition to drafting the legislation, LCC will have to convince Congress that the bill has the support of Lincoln County residents.  LCC is claiming that support when in fact we believe there is no support because few Lincoln County citizens are aware of it and if they were they would oppose it because in its present form it does nothing for them.    You can learn more about LCC >HERE< 

WILDERNESS PETITION
NLCC collected 468 signatures opposing the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act in less than a week.  The petition was sent to the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands which held a hearing on Oct 18 on this bill.  Congressman Denny Rehberg, the Forest Service, BLM, Bruce Vincent and Noel Williams were among those who testified against the bill at the hearing.  As of 1/27/08 the sub-committee has not voted on the bill.  Go to http://www.savethewest.net to learn more about this giant wilderness bill that could shut down access to most of our National Forests in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. You can also learn more >HERE<

TEN LAKES
We have also just recently learned that Murphy Lake is beginning an analysis of the Ten Lakes Area that will direct activities in that area for years to come.  We must be involved at all levels of that analysis.  This process will begin in January of 08.  It is referred to as the Galton Project.

SENATOR AUBYN CURTISS RECEIVES AWARD

Senator Curtiss was awarded the Chuck Samuelson Award for outstanding public service in the effort to restore public access and multiple use on public lands.  Senator Curtiss was honored at a banquet at the Point of Rocks restaurant in October .