New snow plan for Flathead National Forest appealed

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead National Forest's recently approved winter recreation access plan has been appealed, mostly because of objections about late-season snowmobiling.

The Swan View Coalition and Winter Wildlands Alliance on Thursday appealed the winter access plan to the regional forester in Missoula.

The plan resulted from a lawsuit settlement agreement between the Montana Wilderness Association, the Montana Snowmobile Association and the Flathead. It established areas where snowmobiling is and isn't allowed on the forest, basically retaining the most popular trail networks and play areas that have been established over the years.

It also allows the snowmobiling season to be extended in several areas to dates well beyond the grizzly bear denning season, which has been defined by the Flathead's long-range forest plan as Nov. 15 through March 15.

In the Lost Johnny area at the north end of the Swan Range, for example, the plan allows snowmobiling to continue through May 31.

And that is unacceptable to the appellants, who charge that it conflicts with other provisions in the forest plan and will result in a "taking" of grizzly bears in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

The groups contend that the Flathead's extended season policy will set a precedent that will bring pressure to provide extended seasons on other national forests in the Forest Service's Northern Region.

They also challenge the Flathead Forest's claims that the extended seasons were included in the plan because of substantial backing from the snowmobilng community. They say that's not the case; the forest received only seven comments specifically requesting extended snowmobiling opportunities.

Regional Forester Gail Kimbell can require the Flathead to revise its decision or uphold it.