Salvage timber: Too little, too late?

It will be interesting to see the final results when timber salvage projects are complete on the Flathead National Forest.

In all fairness, the U.S. Forest Service pulled out the stops (within its legal authority) to produce the voluminous paperwork required for post-fire projects just over a year after the fires of 2003. Average timber sales can take much longer to prepare. The agency put a premium on being expeditious, even approving an exemption that allowed logging to proceed during a required period for reviewing administrative appeals.

But this was an "emergency" situation involving wood that will rapidly deteriorate in commercial value.

Despite the special measures taken, will it be enough to serve the purpose of salvaging wood fiber for economic purposes? It remains to be seen whether the timber that is actually removed and processed into lumber can measure up to pre-sale volume estimates.

Over time, deterioration and insect damage could put a big dent in the estimates. And it appears that much of the wood involved in these salvage sales may not be removed until next winter.

Will it be worth all the time and effort involved? Logging jobs are at risk in the Northwest, so we certainly hope so. If not, it should be back to the drawing board to find a plan that does work.

"Senior connections," a new social services safety net for seniors in the Flathead, is so simple it's a wonder that no one thought of it before.

The informal program is the brainchild of Kalispell Fire Chief Randy Brodehl, who saw that some seniors needed special help during emergencies.

Many senior citizens don't have family or friends to turn to when an emergency crew finishes its work. It might be that they usually count on the husband or wife who is now hospitalized, or it might just be that they are overwhelmed and don't know where to turn.

Jim Stewart, Kalispell's prevention chief and fire marshal, is the point man for the program, which will count on volunteers to steer seniors to available services.

The program is still in the planning stages, but when the call goes out for senior connection participants, we are sure many will step forward to help. This is just one more example of the caring Flathead community.

You have to feel a little sympathy for Brent Mitchell.

Last week he was the proud possessor of a new state fishing record.

This week he isn't.

Mitchell's state-record pygmy Whitefish was certified on Feb. 9, but

he only got to enjoy the record for five days - until Alvin Ammann

pulled in a bigger pygmy on Monday.

Ammann's catch was 3.4 ounces and 8.4 inches long; Mitchell's was

3.2 ounces and 8 inches long.

Both anglers caught their big little fish in Little Bitterroot Lake

at a depth of 109-110 feet.

It wouldn't be too surprising to find even bigger pygmy whitefish

brought in now that anglers know there are records to be had and what

lake to find them in.

Until then, congratulations to the current and past pygmy champs.