by Pat Connell, Forester, former State Senator, Hamilton
The Oct. 8 article concerning Lolo Creek gave a good report on efforts being undertaken to parse the use of waters flowing in Lolo Creek, and the recent de-watering of portions of the creek. Regardless, it seems that there is a lack of discussion specifically about the source of the creek’s water.
Curtailment of water uses in years of drought can certainly mitigate negative impacts, but it doesn’t address the impact of landscape sized wildfires in the headwaters of the creek. Simply put, whatever volume of water resulting from winter snow will flow through to the creek, but WHEN that occurs is a direct result of forest and wildfire management. Burnt out headwater drainages will release their water much earlier in the summer, rather than slowly throughout the season.
Over the last quarter century, the wildfire suppression strategy has seemed to focus on avoiding expansion of fires into the adjoining lower elevation lands outside the forest rather than actually suppressing the fires at all elevations. Concurrently, Forests’ Purpose and Need Statements in their vegetative management project documents continually use “reduction of stream sedimentation” along with “reduced wildfire risks” as justifications for action. Yet time after time, the agency ignored timing of water flows.
It is ironic that water flows are ignored by the agency in its planning. First, the agency itself pursued a Water Compact for years with the State of Montana, which ultimately was ratified in 2007. Even more fundamental, the original effort by Congress to establish the Forest Service in the 1897 Organic Act included the directive “…for the purpose of securing favorable conditions of water flows.” Then in 1978, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that mandate. Therefore, I would assert that generally following any sort of a “let burn policy” in headwater drainages is wrong.
Yet, following any effort to aggressively protect the “hydrologic sponge” effect of high elevation watersheds will be in conflict with existing unroaded areas. Unfortunately, discussing forest management of these areas never happens during a fire bust or de-watered creek.