Batt Says Forest Chief Vows To Take Another Look At Bull Trout

Gov. Phil Batt emerged from a private lunch with Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck on Tuesday optimistic that an endangered species listing might be avoided for the bull trout.

The governor said Dombeck joined in the promise Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt made during a meeting last week to personally review Idaho’s most recent efforts to improve bull trout habitat and increase its chances for survival.

“My hopes have been enhanced by the visits of both Secretary Babbitt and Mike Dombeck,” the governor said. “They’re willing to take a second look at this proposed listing.”

But Batt indicated he again made no headway on the issue of grizzly bear reintroduction. He reiterated his and the state’s firm opposition to relocating bears in central Idaho’s Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and then blasted the Forest Service for what he claimed was taking the lead on reintroduction when it is the responsibility of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

He was particularly peeved by Regional Forester Hal Salwasser confirming nearly two weeks ago that the government will recommend as its preferred alternative reintroducing grizzlies but allowing a citizen committee to set management policy. Salwasser said he had already informed the Batt administration of that - something the governor said was flatly not true.

For his part, Dombeck expressed a desire to cooperate with the state as much as possible and to concentrate on areas of agreement rather than those in dispute.

“The way we’re going to get on top of the issues is by working together, finding common ground,” said Dombeck, who was in Boise to meet with Western Council of the National Association of State Foresters and with Forest Service employees.

He did offer his cooperation to Attorney General Alan Lance, who to date has been stonewalled in his attempt to secure the names of people who hold cabin leases on Forest Service land in 21 counties. Counties need the information to assess property taxes on the structures.

Although the Bureau of Land Management routinely releases that information for its holdings, the Forest Service abruptly changed its policy this year on the basis of a legal opinion citing privacy concerns.

Dombeck promised nothing beyond reviewing the legal interpretations, but he said he would “continue the dialogue on this issue … and try to focus on the issues we agree on.”

To reinforce the state’s position on bull trout, Fish and Game Director Steve Mealey said a “world class” task force of state and federal experts will be assembled to review all the actions the state has taken since 1994 to improve populations and assess their impact.

“Our greatest strength is partnership,” Mealey said.

He pointed out that the plans to propose protection for bull trout in the Columbia River basin in the next few weeks were forced by a federal judge based only on information about survival programs before 1995.

Both Mealey and Batt believe that once officials review what has occurred since, an endangered species listing can be avoided just as Oregon avoided one for coho by developing and implementing its own recovery plan.