Saving the Chain

Public comments sought on new management plan for Thompson Chain of Lakes

The sound of songbirds filled the air and a pair of Canada geese waddled along the shoreline Wednesday at Horseshoe Lake west of Kalispell.

Signs were everywhere that winter was losing its battle with spring. Ice was receding from the shoreline and the twisting, narrow road toward the lake actually showed segments of bare ground.

It's a quiet scene, indeed.

But in only another month or so, the rutted dirt road will start seeing traffic and the tranquil setting at Horseshoe Lake will be broken by sounds of motorboats.

Horseshoe Lake is one of seven major lakes in the Thompson Chain of Lakes, a 20-mile-long segment of lakes, wetlands, forests and streams midway between Kalispell and Libby along U.S. 2.

The Chain of Lakes stretches from McGregor Lake in the east to Loon Lake in the west. The area is popular with campers, anglers and hunters.

Anglers can catch kokanee salmon, largemouth bass, pike and rainbow trout. Because the lakes are close to thousands of acres of public forest, the campgrounds are often used as base camps for hunters in the fall.

Beginning tonight, just how those lands and lakes are managed in the Thompson Chain may begin to change.

A meeting tonight at the Fisher River Fire Hall will allow the public to review and comment on new management plans for the Thompson Chain of Lakes area.

The meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. The fire hall is across U.S. 2 from Happy's Inn.

People have enjoyed using the Thompson Chain of Lakes since the property was owned by Champion International in the late 1980s.

The Conservation Fund purchased the 3,000-acre Thompson Chain of Lakes from Champion and in 1993 transferred title to the lands to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

With the management plan that guides Thompson Chain of Lakes 10 years old, and with recreational use increasing, new guidelines are being drafted.

The guidelines address several issues, including campsite capacity, roads, noxious weeds, off-road use and forest health. Park ranger Amy Grout helped develop the new management plan with the assistance of landowners, recreationists, representatives of Plum Creek Timber Co. and the U.S. Forest Service.

Perhaps the largest noticeable change in the management plan is how camping will be regulated.

Campsites are scattered among the trees and along the lakes, but amenities are few. Only a few campgrounds have picnic tables, and the campsite borders are vague.

Grout, a Colorado State University graduate who oversaw development of the management plan, said the new camping regulations will improve management of the nearly 80 campsites and help provide new amenities where needed - or wanted. That's up to the public.

"The setup that's in place doesn't work very well," Grout said. "It's not effective in keeping the campsites from spreading, while giving the people what they want. The system now is confusing."

Some of the management objectives, if approved, would be implemented as early as Memorial Day this year, Grout said, while other long-term plans would be implemented over a five-year period.

Roads are one issue that's addressed in the management plan. Anyone who has tried to pull a camper or boat trailer into the Chain of Lakes knows that the narrow, rutted roads can be a challenge to navigate. Part of the management plan would allow Fish, Wildlife and Parks to better manage the roads.

"We need to take the worst and fix them first," said Grout.

The proposed 85-page management plan addresses a wide variety of user interests. So far public comment has run the

gamut from adjacent private property owners wanting more restrictions on public use to members of the public wanting the system kept the way it is.

"People having a say in this plan is important," Grout said. "We want their feedback. We're lucky to have these lands, and that's why this plan is important … so we can make sure we have them in 20 years."

Once public comment is taken through April 8, the finalized plan will be sent to Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Jeff Hagener for approval.

Other areas addressed in the Thompson Chain of Lakes management plan update include:

Campsite capacity

The Chain of Lakes' current numbering system and capacity limits are complicated for users and parks personnel, making compliance difficult, Grout said. For many years, camping and recreation at the Thompson Chain was free - but with increased use that required more management, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission implemented camping fees in 2004.

Management objectives: More clearly delineate separate campsites and their capacities; revise signs at self-pay stations, and develop a more reliable method of tracking occupancy.

Site protection

Some campsites suffer from severe overuse and lack of traffic-control methods.

Management objectives: Implement traffic control, including rock barriers, and prioritize restoration projects at the campsites.

Roads

Many of the roads in the Thompson Chain of Lakes are in poor condition and need repair.

Management objectives: Improve primary and secondary roads and create a management plan to ensure access to campsites.

Trails

A system of user-created off-highway vehicle trails winds through the Chain of Lakes. In 2001, many of these trails were closed to motorized uses, but since the closure, Fish, Wildlife and Parks has received requests to develop a trail system for motorized use.

Management objective: Determine if an off-road vehicle trail system is consistent with public needs, and if so, create a plan that will help manage their location and costs.

Comments on the Thompson Chain of Lakes management plan update will be accepted through April 8 at the Fish, Wildlife and Parks office in Kalispell. For information contact Grout at 751-4589.