Yellowstone Releases Draft Winter Use Alternatives

 Work is progressing on a new winter use plan for Yellowstone National Park.
>
> Comments received during public scoping in January, February and March have
> been reviewed and considered. They were used to help create a draft range
> of alternatives, which are being released today.
>
> The six alternatives will be analyzed in the Draft Environmental Impact
> Statement (DEIS), which will be released for public review and comment in
> early 2011.
>
> The alternatives cover a wide range of possible approaches to the future of
> winter use in the park.  Two alternatives look at different daily limits on
> snowmobiles and snowcoaches.  Another alternative focuses on daily and
> seasonal caps on machines, while allowing for some unguided snowmobile
> access to the park.  A proposal to phase out snowmobiles in favor of
> snowcoaches also is being considered; as is a plan to plow the roads from
> West Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs so commercial wheeled vehicles
> could enter the park in the winter.  A “no-action” alternative would
> eliminate all snowmobile and snowcoach travel in the park after the
> 2010/2011 winter season.
>
> A summary of the comments received during public scoping, and a newsletter
> that describes the range of alternatives are available on the National Park
> Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) web site at
> http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yell , and click on Winter Use Plan; or by
> calling (307) 344-2019.
>
> Yellowstone plans to host two online, one-hour “webinars” on August 3 and
> August 5 to provide the public with more information on the range of
> alternatives and to explain the ongoing winter planning process. In
> addition, the park plans to hold a one-hour conference call the same week,
> on August 4, for those who do not have computer access or who cannot
> participate in either of the webinars.
>
> The webinars are scheduled for Tuesday, August 3, 7-8 p.m. MDT; and
> Thursday, August 5, 10-11 a.m. MDT.  To participate in the webinars for
> Yellowstone’s winter use plan, first read the newsletter (link above) about
> the draft range of alternatives. Then, go to
> https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/936260544 to register for the August
> 3 session; or https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/302796888 to register
> for the August 5 session. You can visit these links at any time to register
> up until each webinar starts.
>
> At each of the gotomeeting.com links above, you will be asked to give your
> name and email address, so that the system can confirm your participation
> and email you a computer link you will use to connect to the webinar on the
> scheduled day and time. You can ask questions during the webinar by typing
> and submitting them from your computer keyboard. However, you also can send
> questions in advance IF you do so when you first register for the webinars.
> You can type your advance questions about the range of alternatives into
> the box provided on the registration page.  Again, please note: The only
> way to submit a question in advance is to do so when you register for the
> webinar. You can submit any other questions live after the webinars begin.
>
> In addition, you will have the option to listen to the webinar in two ways:
> over your computer speakers while viewing the presentation, or by telephone
> while viewing the webinar on your computer. Please be aware that the
> phone-in option that gotomeeting.com will provide at the time of the
> webinar will NOT be a toll-free call and may incur long-distance charges.
>
> The conference call is slated for Wednesday, August 4, 7-8 p.m. MDT.  The
> toll free number for the call is 877-918-1346 (this number is for calls
> from U.S. telephones only). Please enter the passcode, 8654495 followed by
> the pound (#) sign.
>
> The NPS will provide a 60-day public review and comment period on the
> alternatives and their analyses when the DEIS is released in early 2011.
>
> – www.nps.gov/yell
> -,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,
>
>
> Public Affairs Office
> Yellowstone National Park, WY  82190
> (307) 344-2013
> Yell_Public_Affairs@nps.gov
> www.nps.gov/yell

New Effort To Make Private Land Access Easier

CBU opinion. Their has been a systematic closure of public lands access in the past approximate 30 years. CBU believes in public lands access, but also in private property rights. CBU is concerned as to the direction of this new government sponsored effort for private land access while more public lands are being closed everyday.  CBU will be reviewing this in more detail.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new effort to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch and forest land to voluntarily provide public access to land for the enjoyment of wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting or fishing, under programs implemented by state or tribal governments.

“This administration is committed to preserving and enhancing the great conservation legacy of our nation’s hunters and anglers to benefit current and future generations,” said Vilsack. “This program will not only help achieve conservation goals, but also increase opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation by providing greater access to privately held lands for wildlife-dependent recreation.”

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USDA Forest Service Report Illustrates Benefits

CBU will be reviewing the accuracy of this report in regards to multiple use on public lands

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the release of a report showing the economic importance of America’s National Forests and Grasslands to rural communities across the country. The updated National Visitor Use Monitoring Report reveals that recreation activities on national forests and grasslands have helped to sustain an estimated 223,000 jobs in rural areas and contributed approximately $14.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

“Outdoor recreation is a crucial part of USDA’s effort to help generate wealth and economic opportunities in rural America,” said Vilsack. “This report demonstrates clearly how recreation activities not only help Americans enjoy a healthier lifestyle and instill an appreciation for the great outdoors, but also sustain thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic activity in rural communities across the country.”

To read full story click here

This week a public meeting was held at the Billings Rod and Gun Club where the National Wildlife Federation’s Kit Fisher presented highlights of the CMR Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, which is being completed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Expected to be released in September, the general public will then have 90-days to submit comments on items like access, wildlife numbers, a possible wild, free-ranging bison herd and whether or not livestock grazing should remain part of the management plan.

To learn more about the plan, visit www.fws.gov/cmr/planning/.

 Submitted by Russell Nemetz  of  Northern Ag news network

FWP may buy 89 acres for fishing access

The state may buy 89 acres on Sixteenmile Creek for a new fishing access site. The site is about five miles long and follows the abandoned Milwaukee Railroad right of way along the creek west of Ringling. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would build a small parking lot on the property, along with an access road and a restroom.

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15 wolves in Gallatin and Madison Mountains would be hunted under proposed hunting regs

The 186-wolf quota that will be recommended to the state wildlife commission this week would mean 15 gray wolves could be killed in the Gallatin and Madison mountains south of Bozeman come hunting season.

The two ranges make up one of 13 wolf management units in the state that will each have a sub-quota of wolves for hunting. A quota as high as 20 has been discussed for the area as part of a statewide quota of 216, but Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department staff has recommended a lower statewide quota of 186.

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Judge lifts motorized ban in parts of Lewis and Clark National Forest

 A federal judge has lifted bans and seasonal restrictions on motorized travel in some areas of the 1.8-million acre Lewis and Clark National Forest in north-central Montana after the U.S. Forest Service reached a compromise with motorized groups who had filed a lawsuit.

An environmental group called the Montana Wilderness Association, which intervened in the lawsuit on the side of the Forest Service, immediately attacked the decision and said it is considering filing an appeal.

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Off Trail: Road south of Big Timber in dispute between landowners, Forest Service

Limited public access was reopened Wednesday across private land to the Gallatin National Forest at Cherry Creek, 10 miles south of here.

Landowner George Matelich said it was an oversight that no-trespassing signs hadn’t been removed by that morning. He had advertised the June 30 reopening of the access route in an advertisement in the Big Timber newspaper. Matelich apologized and removed the signs and unlocked the gate from his property to forest land by noon. New signs were installed by Thursday.

To read full story click here