Page 10 - Flathead Beacon // 10.21.15

NEWS
As Fires Smolder, Trail Work Begins on National Forests USFS officials say reopening East Side Trail on Spotted Bear Ranger District a top priority
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
Though it’s October, U.S. Forest Ser- vice officials across Montana are still dealing with the impacts of this year’s fire season. And in some cases, the flames are still smoldering.
On the Flathead National Forest’s Spotted Bear Ranger District, the big- gest priority is trying to reopen a critical route, the Eastside Trail No. 80, which connects to the Bob Marshall Wilder- ness. However, District Ranger Deb Mucklow said in some cases Forest Ser- vice employees are still encountering fire.
Although the danger from most fires in the region has subsided, some are still producing plenty of smoke. That was the case last weekend when the Sheep Fire near Essex released a noticeable smoke cloud on Glacier National Park’s southern boundary. Officials say the fire
A firefighter does trail work in the Spotted Bear Ranger District. PHOTO COURTESY OF INCIWEB
is primarily burning in remote coun- try away from Essex. On the Kootenai National Forest, officials were keeping an eye on two fires near Libby that flared up earlier this month. Cooler weather has since calmed fears that those fires will jump any containment lines.
Mucklow said that 125 miles of trail were damaged on the Spotted Bear Ranger District, mostly by the massive Bear Creek Fire that scorched more than 70,000 acres. About 13 miles of the East- side Trail were damaged in the blaze and the district ranger said reopening that is the top priority. If they can’t repair the trail before the snow falls, there could be big problems next spring. The trail is the main route to the Big Prairie Ranger Station and is frequently used by local outfitters.
“The Eastside Trail is a primary access route and it sees a lot of traffic. It’s a major route through the area,” she said. “If we don’t get the trail reopened and peo- ple start going cross-country next year that could have major impacts (on the resource).”
Much of the work on the trail includes installing new water bars, which divert
water off the trail, and crib walls, which keepthetrailinplace.Mucklowsaidthe Forest Service has so far only received funds to repair the Eastside Trail so other trail work may have to wait until spring.
“It’s labor-intensive work since it’s in the wilderness and has to be done by hand; we can’t use chainsaws,” she said.
On the Kootenai National Forest, trail work has been slow to start because many crews are still mopping up wildfires. Mary Laws, recreation program ranger for the forest, said firefighters have done some “cut and run work” but that more repairs are needed. She said that some local forest user groups, including the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilder- ness, Back Country Horseman of Mon- tana and the Kootenai Mountain Riders, have all expressed interest in helping restore some trails.
[email protected]
went toward local schools, according to property tax statements provided to the Beacon. Money also went toward the county’s general fund, road and bridge repairs, and public safety. The commis- sioners say they will be able to raise some mill levies to compensate for the losses to the general fund. But cuts will have to be made elsewhere, like the sheriff’s office, because those mills cannot be raised.
“County departments will need to brace for the fact that they may have to let some people go,” Barron said.
Commissioner Gale Decker said the cuts will have to be made early next year and that the commission wants to work with the public to determine the best way to move forward.
[email protected]
Dam Transfer Means Cuts in Lake County Sale of former Kerr Dam will mean about $1 million less in county budget
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
Government officials in Lake County are preparing for spending cuts next year after the Confederated Salish and Koote- nai Tribes announced they will not help offset the loss of more than $1 million in tax revenue from its recently acquired hydroelectric dam on the Flathead River.
Earlier this fall, the tribe acquired the Kerr Dam, since renamed the Salish Koo- tenai Dam, in a deal more than 30 years in the making. Prior to the transfer, the massive hydroelectric facility was owned by Northwestern Energy and contrib- uted about $1.2 million to the local tax base every year. However, those payments have stopped because the tribes are not required to pay state and local taxes.
Earlier this year, the Lake County Commission and Lake County School District asked if the tribe would volun- tarily pay about $1.2 million annually to the entities as a “payment in lieu of taxes.” In a press release from the tribe, officials said they “weighed many import- ant factors” before deciding against the payments.
“This investment marks unchartered territory in the business world for the CSKT, and like any new business owner, CSKT remains cautious in commit- ting financial resources in a depressed energy market,” officials said in a press release. “Given the challenging economic climate, the Tribal Council has decided it is imprudent for the Tribes to commit to payment in lieu of property taxes as
related to the dam.”
However, tribal officials say they
could change their mind in the future. The press release also noted some of the financial contributions the tribe already makes to the local economy.
County officials said they were not surprised by the tribe’s decision, but they were disappointed.
“This is going to fall on the backs of the taxpayers,” Commissioner Bill Bar- ron said.
According to the commissioners, Lake County’s annual budget is about $25 mil- lion, with about $12 million coming from local tax revenues. The remainder comes from state and federal grants. More than $600,000, or about two-thirds of the money paid by the dam’s previous owner,
Welding, Blacksmithing & Fabrication
WROUGHT IRON EXPERTS!
Iron Stair Rails, Gates, Furniture, Signs, Fireplace And More!
406-892-4030 3816 Mt Hwy 40 Columbia Falls www.acutechworks.com
10
OCTOBER 21, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM