Blacktail resident appeals trails decision
Increasing the amount of motorized trails on the Blacktail Island Unit means more illegal off-road use, more trash and more dust for Blacktail residents.
According to Blacktail Road resident Leslie Gray, who’s lived on the road for over 15 years, that’s what will happen if the Blacktail Island Unit Management Plan goes into effect. And she said almost everyone who lives on Blacktail agrees with her.
Gray appealed the Forest Service’s June decision on the Island Unit management plan with Adam Rissien from the Missoula based conservation organization Wildland CPR. The two appellants met with Flathead National Forest Service officials Aug. 28 to talk about some of the solutions to the issues they have with the decision.
“We’re kind of still in negotiation,” Rissien said. “I think we reached some sort of understanding on the need for dust abatement and the need for increased (law) enforcement.”
However, solutions to those problems are reliant on funding sources, which are minimal right now. Rissien is also concerned about how opening up more roads to motorized users will affect elk habitat security areas on the Island Unit.
One of the key areas he pointed out was in the Lost Lake area. It’s an area Rissien feels will get the most negative impact from increased motorized use.
Gray said the issues already going on within the Island Unit need to be addressed before any further plans are made to develop the unit.
“I think the projects that are slated for the Island Unit need to be consistent with sustainable,” Gray said. “Where the mountain can sustain the activity, not to damage it to the point of the dog and pony show we have now.”
Blacktail’s Island Unit is 46,000 acres that stretches from just above Lakeside, northwest to outside of Kila and southeast almost to Lake Mary Ronan.
The decision made at the end of June authorized 2.98 miles of new motorized trail construction and makes use of about 38.62 miles of existing National Forest System roads and trails. Including the existing Blacktail Wild Bill Off-Highway Vehicle Trail, motorized trails will total 51.93 miles.
Non-motorized trail additions include a total of 11.46 miles of new single-track trail that stretches along the north end of the Island Unit and would eventually connect a Lakeside to Blacktail trail with the Foy’s to Blacktail trail.
Gray said the increased use of Blacktail Road over the years has created dust issues along the road and increasing the number of motorized trails will make that problem even worse.
The road isn’t maintained by anyone during the months that Blacktail Mountain Resort isn’t open and plowing it. Blacktail Road is owned by the Federal Aviation Administration, surrounded by Flathead National Forest land, and used by Flathead County residents to access their homes.
Gray doesn’t have an issue with motorized trail use on legal trails, it’s the illegal motorized trail use she has an issue with and the way some motorized users treat the land on the Island Unit.
“Why are we giving them more trails when they’ve already created all these illegal trails?” Gray said. “We’re rewarding bad behavior.”
Andrew Johnson from the Swan Ranger District of the FNF said part of the reason they created the plan was to give motorized users more options for recreation.
As part of the management plan, the Forest Service is looking at new ways to curb illegal trail use off of existing Forest Service Roads on the Island Unit, by fixing barriers, berms or gates, that have been ineffective.
By giving motorized trail-users more options, and building trail designed specifically for off-highway use, Johnson said the Forest Service thinks illegal trail-use will be reduced.
As for the appeal, Johnson said he hopes it won’t delay the work slated to begin on new trails this October.
“Hopefully this will be resolved by then,” Johnson said. “I think the district ranger made a good decision and I think it’s a strong decision.”
Rissien said nothing was agreed on during last Tuesday’s meeting, but some compromises were put on the table for further discussion. The appelants will meet with the Forest Service again this Thursday.
Rissien said he isn’t sure what will come of the appeal.
“If the Forest Service decides not to change their plan then we can decide to drop it or move ahead with litigation,” Rissien said. “We’d like them to reconsider their motorized trails decision.”