Neighbor expresses concerns about proposed Spencer Lake timber sale

For the past 20 years, we have enjoyed recreating in the Spencer Lake State Trust Land area. We have seen this area become discovered by local outdoor lovers and usage has grown dramatically. We feel that this is great and are happy to see so many people enjoying what we know is a wonderful resource and asset to Whitefish.

We have hiked, biked, ridden horses, cross-country skied, snowshoed and merely sat in the forest and enjoyed the undeveloped beauty of it.

We have seen and photographed great gray owls, great horned owls, pygmy owls, goshawks, various types of woodpeckers, bears, moose, elk, deer, turkey, weasels, badgers, mountain lions, eagles, osprey and coyotes and know this area is home to a lot of other wildlife.

I am heartbroken to learn that the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation now proposes a timber sale to cut this area, possibly distroying this forest along with some of the last old-growth trees in the region. This forest may never be the same.

Very little public notice of this intended plan will take place. In the letter and map of this area that we received last week, we were notified that the public had only 30 days to make the DNRC aware of any oposition.

After my phone visit with the DNRC forester in charge of this proposal, I learned that the only public notification will be in the "legals' section of both the Whitefish Pilot and Daily Inter Lake, and a very hard-to-find paragraph on the DNRC Web site. How many people read this portion of the paper regularly or look at this Web site?

I am hoping enough people will at least read this letter and take what actions are necessary to prevent the distruction of this beautiful area — by letters, phone calls, e-mails and, if necessary, signed petitions. Wouldnt this area make a wonderful state park for everyone to enjoy in the future?

This area is a small, still wild island surrounded by ever increasing development. Logging may adversely affect a true Whitefish area treasure. Informed input by local citizens is necessary for the responsible long term use and management of this area.

Comments may be mailed to Attn: Brent Kallander, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, 655 Timberwolf Parkway, Suite 2, Kalispell MT 59901 or e-mailed to bkallander@mt.gov or sent by phone at 751-2265.

Suzi Law lives in Whitefish.