Field reports: Glacier Park ready for 100 millionth visit

PARKS – Glacier National Park is on track to see its 100 millionth visitor this month.

The milestone will be reached 105 years after the Montana park opened. However, the Glacier could reach the 200 millionth visit in the next 40 years or less, said Supt. Jeff Mow.

In 2014, a record 2.3 million people entered the park.

Park officials have noted the congestion and are working on a Going-to-the-Sun Road management plan that could include a timed entry system or even a reservation system.

Wild Olympics bill introduced in Senate

WILDERNESS – Washington Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Derek Kilmer have introduced the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2015 in Congress.

The act introduced Thursday is designed to protect environmentally sensitive parts of the Olympic Peninsula.

Murray and Kilmer say it also will support recreation and preserve jobs. Murray says the plan was the result of years of negotiations and compromise.

The act would designate more than 125,000 acres of federal land as wilderness in the Olympic National Forest. It also would designate 464 miles of rivers as wild and scenic.

Conservation groups praised the plan.

Climber scientist concerned about glaciers

CLIMATE – Steven Ghan, Climate Scientist with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will talk about fading glaciers and actions to curb the melt at a program in Spokane.

The climate change program is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main.

Forest roads assessed; Panhandle meetings set

PUBLIC LAND – North Idaho forest roads are being surveyed this year for their safety, environmental impact and value and the public is invited to comment.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forest has 4,113 miles of road open to the public plus 4,000 miles of brushed-in or stored roads, said Jason Kirchner, Forest Service spokesman in Coeur d’Alene. The number of overdue road maintenance projects continues to grow, while public use is increasing, he said.

“Roads that cannot be adequately maintained can be dangerous to visitors and threaten forest health,” he said. “They can increase sedimentation into rivers and streams, degrading water quality and impacting fish and wildlife.”

This year’s travel analysis study will begin to help the Forest Service prioritize limited resources to manage roads used by visitors, while protecting sources of clean water, he said.

Information is on the IPNF website.

Public workshops on the analysis are set for 5 p.m.:

• Tuesday, St. Joe Ranger District in St. Maries.

• Wednesday, Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District in Smelterville.

• Thursday, IPNF Supervisor’s Office, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene.

• June 16, Sandpoint Ranger District in Sandpoint.

• June 17, Bonners Ferry Ranger District.

• June 18, Priest Lake Ranger District.