By Jeff Lonn & Michele Dieterich, Hamilton
The United States Forest Service continues to ignore public input and destroy trust with their planning of the Westside project south of Hamilton. At a meeting last week, Bitterroot National Forest made it clear that before releasing the final decision, they had already lined up workers to complete logging that threatens the integrity of the popular Coyote Coulee trail. Also prior to the final decision, the trees have been marked and geotechnical work for a new road bridge has been completed.
In planning the Westside Collaborative Vegetation Management project, the USFS has disregarded numerous public comments, discounted possible compromises, and dismissed almost all 17 objections filed. At the center of the controversy is the proposal to commercially log more than 2 square miles of mature Ponderosa forest, build 7.6 miles of new logging roads, and run log trucks on quiet residential roads. Much of this work will occur around the Coyote Coulee trail, a popular 9-mile loop in a pristine, unroaded area that was acquired by the USFS in the 1970s for big game winter range. The trail was built and has been maintained by the Backcountry Horsemen in true collaboration between the Backcountry Horsemen and the Bitterroot NF. Recently, Darby students have also participated in its maintenance. With this history of cooperation, it’s astounding that the USFS is now ignoring public concerns, including a request for a buffer around the trail. And this project will cost taxpayers almost $1 million.
If it is truly necessary to make this forest “more resilient,” the work could be accomplished with less impact in sensitive areas like Coyote Coulee by keeping new roads out and using non-commercial hand thinning. Considering public input by implementing compromises to keep this area pristine would certainly help the USFS win back the trust of the American people.