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:
-
Membership
-
Opening the Graves Creek Road
-
Opposition to the Lincoln County Coalition
plan for wilderness
-
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 .
