Increased land management will enhance quality of life

While the Flathead was recently ranked as the fastest growing county in the state, our unemployment rate still stands above the state average despite our growth. We’ve seen layoffs at some of our oldest employers like Stoltze Land and Lumber Co., mill closures at Weyerhaeuser, and diminished numbers in some of our older sources of revenue like agriculture and mining. Many suggest tourism will replace these industries, but in the Flathead, it’s important to embrace all that our natural resources have to offer not only to ensure a strong economy, but also to enhance the quality of life that Northwest Montana has to offer.

As business owners, business advocates and members of our communities, the beauty of this landscape is not lost on us. The Flathead is home to some of the country’s most beautiful mountains, lakes, streams and wildlife. Maintaining and enhancing this landscape will always be a lifeline for our economy. As such, we must devote the time, resources and care into what drives our economy: the land.

Our way of life invites tourists from all over the world but also draws businesses and residents to the valley year-round. Whether its agriculture, manufacturing, retail, tourism or logging we’re all invested in our community and responsible for it to remain viable in the years to come.

However, the U.S. Forest Service continues to face diminished capacity across the agency from escalating wildfire costs, position shortages, continued litigation and burdensome regulatory requirements. The combined effects of which leave little opportunity for the agency to accomplish on-the-ground work to reduce fuels, protect our watersheds, maintain recreation trails and enhance wildlife habitat. These necessary projects are required if we want to preserve not only our industries that rely on them, but the industries that rely on the quality of life born from what the landscape offers.

We urge Congress to give the Forest Service new tools to improve the health of our forests. We believe made-in-Montana projects that are developed through the hard work of diverse stakeholders should be put on a fast track to implementation. We also urge Congress to protect these projects from habitual obstructionists who routinely sue against the very projects needed to conserve our forests, improve habitat, and protect our recreational economy. We urge Congress to resolve conflicting court opinions by clarifying what federal law requires and does not require the Forest Service to do as it analyzes and develops projects.

With the agency facing these challenges, it’s important that as land users, we acknowledge the need for more management of these valuable assets and request our delegation to tackle the challenges facing the Forest Service. In the Flathead, our businesses rely on a quality of life second-to-none and our assets need to be managed, maintained and utilized so our entire economy can thrive and see our economy reflect the quality of life that no one wants diminished.

Tabor, of Swan Lake, is founder of Swan Mountain Outfitters and president of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. Joe Unterreiner, of Kalispell, is president and CEO of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce.