NFLA – Page 50 – North Fork Landowners Association

Flathead Wild and Scenic River: Comprehensive River Management Plan Wildlife Outstandingly Remarkable Value Meeting

The Flathead National Forest, in coordination and partnership with Glacier National Park, has begun the process to prepare a Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP) for the 3-Forks of the Flathead River. Project activities will include reviewing the existing Flathead River Wild and Scenic River Recreation Management Direction and River Management Plan.

The river and surrounding lands offer recreational opportunities and access to outstanding resources for a variety of public lands users. The CRMP will address the current status of these resources, outline goals and desired conditions, determine user capacities, and create a monitoring strategy and plan to carry forward. The public is encouraged to contribute to this planning effort that will secure the outstanding remarkable values of the 3-Forks of the Flathead River for future generations. The planning team is interested in diverse stakeholder input as we develop the CRMP.

A series of resource-focused public meetings are being held beginning with the first meeting in May. Our upcoming meeting on Wednesday, June 20, will focus on wildlife monitoring, management, and concerns as part of the efforts to develop the CRMP. The meeting will be held in the lower level of the Arts and Technology Building at Flathead Valley Community College. A campus map can be found here: https://www.fvcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2017-11-Campus-Map-Large-WEB.pdf. The main meeting will be from 6 pm to 8 pm and will include presentations on current wildlife information and some facilitated discussion on how wildlife will be addressed in the CRMP. An introductory presentation on the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act for those new to the CRMP process will begin at 5:45pm. Future meeting topics, links to past meeting materials, and the meeting schedule are posted on the CRMP website.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=fseprd573051&width=full

The 3-Forks of the Flathead was designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1978 and is a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It encompasses the North Fork of the Flathead from the Canadian border to its confluence with the Middle Fork, the entire Middle Fork, and the South Fork from its headwaters to Hungry Horse Reservoir. The North Fork and the lower Middle Fork form the boundaries between the Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park. Portions of the Middle and South Forks flow through the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness Areas. A total of 219 miles of the Flathead River are included in the designation.

For more information, please call Flathead National Forest Recreation Program Manager, Chris Prew at 406-758-3538.

Ongoing updates on the CRMP can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=fseprd573051&width=full

Fire Mitigation Committee 2018 Late Winter Update

Mark Your Calendars! The Fire Mitigation Committee is planning for the North Fork’s 2018 Firewise Day, which will be held the morning of July 18 preceding the Summer Interlocal. The North Fork has been recognized as a Firewise Community since 2006. Come join our Celebration! Byron Bonney will be our featured speaker again. This year he will tell us about the effects of fuels treatments in the area burned by the 2017 Lolo Peak Fire south of Missoula, as well as some effects from the Sunrise Fire near Superior. Byron’s presentation last year focused on the Roaring Lion Fire, and the effects of fuel treatments on fire behavior. The treatments brought fire to the ground and limited the fuels that could be ignited by flying embers. They also improved the chance of survival for neighbors’ homes downwind. We are looking forward to Byron’s report on what he observed at the Lolo Peak and Sunrise Fires, and a look back at some of the fuel treatment “lessons learned” from the Roaring Lion Fire. You can download a copy of the agenda by tapping here.

While funds in our 4th Hazardous Fuels Grant are obligated, a new grant covering the North half of Flathead County has funds available that can be used in the North Fork. The Flathead Economic Policy Center (FEPC) administers the grants and provides landowners and the committee with invaluable technical assistance. Since taking over administration of Hazardous Fuels Grants in the North Fork in 2012 from the Northwest Montana RC&D, FEPC has administered over $153,000 in grants in the North Fork and treated 241 acres with landowner contributions totaling $129,000.

With the retirement of our friend Mason Richwine, a FEPC forester who has worked with many North Fork landowners, Tony Willits will be taking over administration of projects in the North Fork. We look forward to working with Tony, who brings a wealth of forestry and fire experience to the position as did Mason. Bill Swope will continue to work with us, and can be reached at 406-250-9812 or at bhswope@gmail.com.

Flathead County is continuing to work on revision of its Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The Fire Mitigation Committee expects to update its North Fork Wildfire Mitigation and Planning Report in conjunction with the county’s revision. We’ll need community input in the process. We’ll also need to update maps of the significant public and private work that’s been done on the North Fork since the fires of 2003.

A Business Meeting – Tonight!

The first NFLA Business Meeting of the summer will take place this evening, Sunday June 10th. At 7pm there is a presentation “Grizzlies in YOUR Backyard” by Tim Manley & “Wildlife in the North Fork” by Tim Thier, from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks. General meeting 8pm. Bring a snack to share, and meet your neighbors! Larry Wilson, host.

June 2018 National Wildland Fire Outlook

There is essentially no change from the May Outlook for Northwest Montana. I do see some indication that we might not have an extended season into October which would be good. On the other hand, the monsoonal moisture that will be pushing up into the Yellowstone country could very well increase our dry lightning levels without bringing the moisture. That could seriously affect us given hot and dry conditions.

We’ll look forward to the July issuance, but count on a very hot and dry July and August into September with a higher than normal wildfire activity level. Get gutters cleaned out, lawns irrigated and mowed, and cleanup completed.

Here is the link to the June National Wildland Fire Outlook: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

Firewise Date is Wednesday, July 18th

Here is a note from Allen Chrisman, NFLA’s co-chair for the Fire Mitigation Committee… Here is the link to the June National Wildland Fire Outlook:

https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

Sondreson Hall Cleanup 2018

On a gloriously sunny day last Saturday, a smaller than usual crowd showed up for the annual Hall Clean-up at Sondreson Hall. The North Fork Dancers (those who participated in the winter dance classes) made up most of the group. Much was accomplished and everyone had a good time. Firewood was chopped and stacked; the fence was repaired; the outhouses, generator shack, and Hall were thoroughly cleaned; and kitchen supplies were re-organized. Rachel and Alan Peura provided the lunch by grilling hamburgers and serving side dishes. The lunch table was set up on the front porch in order to enjoy the perfect spring day!

Thanks to all of the folks who organized the cleanup and everyone who came to help. The hall is now ready for a summer of serious business and serious fun.

Report from the North Fork Patrol’s Board Meetings

Following is a report from Mark Heaphy… Since January of this year, the patrol has logged more than 658 miles of patrolling, has checked on 151 properties and notified 19 landowners of various problems or damages. The heavier, longer lasting wet snows of this past winter took out more than a few stacks, vents and chimneys. Also, Irv and Chris Heitz have been added to the patrol and will assist in patrolling the more northern properties.

Thank you Mark and all of the participants of the patrol for all the hard work. Your North Fork neighbors appreciate it!

If you would like to learn more about the North Fork Patrol, check out their webpage here.

Fire Season Outlook May-June-July

Well, I had hoped that we would get a better forecast for the fire season. This doesn’t look good.

Northern Rockies: Normal Significant Wildland Fire Potential is expected for the Northern Rockies in May and June. For July and August, Above Normal Significant Wildland Fire Potential is expected from central Montana west through the Idaho Panhandle, excluding the Beaverhead Deer Lodge National forest. In this and other, eastern locations Normal Significant Wildland Fire Potential is expected.

With near average temperatures and precipitation expected in May and June, Normal Significant Wildland Fire Potential is anticipated across the region as fuels will still be transitioning to drier levels, especially at higher elevations west of the Continental Divide. In early July, higher elevations may still be relatively moist due to the enhanced snowpack in the western areas. By the last half of July, however, heavy cured fine fuel loading and drier larger fuels are expected to elevate potential to “above-normal” in the Idaho and western/central Montana areas since the temperature and precipitation outlooks favor warmer and drier conditions. Above Normal potential with warmer and drier than average conditions will continue in August in those locations depicted on the maps. Southwestern Montana, Yellowstone National Park, and the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains/plateau, southwest Montana will remain near normal based on anticipated monsoonal moisture bringing adequate precipitation to these areas through the entire outlook period.

While the forecast for lightning is not included in this Outlook, the reference to monsoonal moisture moving into SW Montana implies that those air masses will be present in the Northern Rockies. Even if the air masses dry out before hitting Northwest Montana, the residual moisture can lead to significant convection and lightning. We can be hot and dry, but if we don’t get starts we can be OK. If we get a lot of dry lightning under hot dry conditions, it will be very challenging.

We haven’t had back to back extreme fire seasons in the Northern Rockies in my experience. However, we might be turning a corner on that this year. Keep your fingers crossed and get your fuels work done and be squared away for initial attack. Could be a bad one.

Download the full report from here. https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

NFLA 2018 Spring Newsletter and Calendar are Out

By now, if you have paid up your NFLA dues, you should have received a copy of the 2018 Spring Newsletter and Calendar in the mail.

The newsletter is the main result of work by Carol Groebe and Chris Heitz, plus articles by Lynn Ogle, Allen Chrisman, Lois Walker and Mark Heaphy. Besides social activities, the articles give great information on wildfire and how to protect your property, the activity of the North Fork Patrol, as well as the latest in the Lois Walker series of North Fork history. This time, she writes about the history of the Pole Bridge, which, since 1988, has been converted to steel and concrete.

If you’re not a member or didn’t receive the newsletter in the mail, you can read it here on the website. Check out our NFLA Newsletters page that includes a message from NFLA President Larry Wilson.

And don’t forget to check out the NFLA Calendar on line throughout the summer. Dates change and new events get added!

First Aid/CPR/AED Class – May 29

The following note is from Bill Walker … I’d like to remind everyone that Bob Lee is giving his very popular and extremely useful First Aid/CPR/AED class at Sondreson Hall on Tuesday, May 29. It starts at 9:00am and should wrap up around 3:30 or 4:00pm. Bring your own lunch and drinks.

Class size is limited to 10 people. Contact Bill Walker, wkwalker@nvdi.comor 406-407-2764, to reserve a place.

Cost is $45 (the $35 listed in the newsletter is an error). Bob accepts cash or checks.

The course includes American Heart Association certification in basic first aid, CPR and use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Also, Bob throws in helpful advice on the sort of supplies to keep on hand in remote areas like the North Fork.

We’re holding this first course fairly early in the season (there’s another in August) because many folks have summer jobs with the Forest Service, Park Service or other outdoor-related organizations. Most of these outfits require basic first aid certification every two years. Bob’s course fulfills this requirement.

**NOTE: If you already made reservations and did not hear back from me, try again. There was an email outage a few days ago that caused some messages to go astray.**