PUBLIC LANDS — The public comment period on the Idaho Panhandle and Kootenai National Forest Draft Forest Plans has been extended 30 days to May 7, the Forest Service announced today.

The original comment period on the massive forest plan proposals was Jan. 3 through April 5.

“We understand that these documents are long and complex, so we agreed to extend the comment period after receiving requests from several local communities,” said Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisor Mary Farnsworth. “The plans reflect 10 years of working with our partners, communities, and interested publics and we want to ensure they all have ample time to digest what is contained in these documents and provide meaningful comments.”

See the Forest Service documents online.

See an S-R story highlighting the forest plan revisions.

See my story about the draft forest plan proposals' affect on recommended wilderness.

PUBLIC LANDS — About 200 miles of trails and more than 1 million acres of the Clearwater National Forest will close to motorized users under a new travel management plan released Wednesday.

See all the official forest documents on the travel plan here.

Meanwhile, the Idaho Panhandle National Forests also is revisiting its forest management plan. See today's S-R story.

Read on for the report on the Clearwater forest plan proposal from the Lewiston Tribune.

CONSERVATION — I hear grumbling about state and federal agencies being proactive by buying or blocking up lowland wild areas. But listen up.

Far-sighted groups such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Inland Northwest Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy are joining the cause and teaming with agencies to save some of these precious wildlife and winter range lands from future development.

 As private timber companies liquidate their forests and look for the higher profit of subdividing and developing their lands, consider this quote in today's front page S-R story on the forest planning process being kicked off in North Idaho.

“You look at real estate ads these days. They say, 'Adjacent to national forest lands.' That's a selling point for people.”

Mary Farnsworth, supervisor of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, where nearly 40 percent of its 2.5 million acres are now classified as “wildland-urban interface.”
- Spokane Spokesman-Review

See how private groups are helping the Forest Service and state wildlife agencies preserve critical wildlife areas in the east slope of the Cascades as well as north of Lake Pend Oreille.

NATIONAL FORESTS — Ten years in the making, a draft forest plan and environmental impact statement were released today by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests for 90 days of public comment.

Forest officials say the proposed plan covering a wide range of issues from fire management to roadless areas was shaped by science, collaboration, laws and input gathered at 30 public meeting and more than 140 public community-based work groups.

Open house meetings to review the plan and learn how to submit comments are scheduled 5 p.m.-7 p.m. as follows:

• Coeur d’Alene, Jan. 10, Fernan Office
• St. Maries, Jan. 11, St. Maries Ranger District Office
• Smelterville, Jan. 12, Silver Valley Office
• Bonners Ferry, Jan. 17, Bonners Ferry Ranger District Office
• Priest Lake, Jan. 19, Priest Lake Ranger District Office
• Sandpoint, Jan. 23, Sandpoint Ranger District Office

The draft plan attempts to  address multiple-use demands on the St. Joe, Coeur d'Alene and Kaniksu national forests.

According to Panhandle forests officials, it sets the foundation to address the ecological and social needs of forest stakeholders, while protecting water and restoring forests that began a century ago with the Weeks Act.

The Draft Plan helps address supplying clean water, restoring and maintaining ecosystems, improving the resistance and resiliency of the forest vegetation to undesirable disturbances and potential climate change effects, providing financially and ecologically sustainable access to the forest, offering a diversity of recreation opportunities including remote settings and utilizing best available science.

The draft plan documents are available online. For more info, call (208) 765-7417 or email r1_kipz_revision@fs.fed.us.

NATIONAL FORESTS — The Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests are planning two toll-free online informational webinars in addition to recent meetings for the public to learn about their Draft Proposed Actions for the Forest Plan Revision.

The proposals cover a wide range of forest issues, ranging from grazing to wilderness.

The sessions will be conducted 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. as follows:

• Colville National Forest, Tuesday, (Aug. 9).
• Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestsThursday, (Aug. 18).

The webinars will include a 20-minute overview of the proposals, plus time for clarifying questions and responses.

Click here to register for Aug. 9.

Click here to register for Aug. 18.

Questions about the webinars? (509) 826-3275, or email r6_ewzplanrevision@fs.fed.us.

NATIONAL FORESTS — The U.S. Forest Service held public meetings this week in Missoula, Coeur d'Alene and Seattle to explain the details and intent of the recently proposed draft Planning Rule to be applied to 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. 

If put into law, the rule would serve as a national blueprint for how hundreds of individual forest plans — such as the Colville and Idaho Panhandle forests — will chart national forest management in the coming years.

The agency says the proposed forest planning rule would support ecological sustainability and provide rural jobs. It includes new provisions for habitat protection, recreation and timber and other uses.

Tom Uniack with Washington Wilderness Coalition says it should provide more protection for national forests.

However some conservation groups in Washington state say the policy fails to safeguard all fish and wildlife species and watersheds that are the source of drinking water for millions.

For example, the proposed rule specifies oversight for animals specifically listed as “species of concern” in forest management, however it seems then to overlook species of high public interest, such as elk.

Formal comments must be submitted by May 16.

NATIONAL FORESTS — The U.S. Forest Service has scheduled public meetings this month to explain the details and intent of the recently proposed draft Planning Rule. If put into law, the rule would serve as a national blueprint for how hundreds of individual forest plans — such as the Colville and Idaho Panhandle forests — will chart national forest management in the coming years.

The forums will not be a place to deliver public comment, but rather an opportunity for stakeholders to ask  questions that will help them submit formal comments before the May 16 deadline.

Following are meetings of regional interest from the complete list of forums across the country:

Missoula: March 21 at the Holiday Inn downtown at the park.

Coeur d'Alene: March 21 at the Forest Supervisor Office, 3815 Schreiber Way.

Seattle: March 23 at the Sheraton Downtown Seattle Hotel.

Portland: March 25 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel.