Bitterroot restoration lagging, critics say

MISSOULA – Today marks three years since a settlement over management of the Bitterroot National Forest, but conservationists say little progress has been made toward restoring the area.

On Feb. 7, 2002, the U.S. Forest Service, the timber industry and seven conservation groups settled a lawsuit challenging the Bitterroot National Forest’s Burned Area Recovery plan.

The settlement included several projects the Forest Service would do to restore areas burned in the massive 2000 wildfires. Projects included stream restoration, fish habitat improvements, reforestation, and destruction of some roads and improvements to others.

The settlement also scaled back proposed salvage logging in burned areas.

But most of the work is not done, said Matthew Koehler of the Native Forest Network.

Repeat wildfire seasons have cut into money that would have gone to restoration, said Dave Bull, Bitterroot National Forest supervisor.

The forest received about $30 million for restoration in 2002, Bull said, but $26 million was used to pay for fighting fires around the West that summer. The situation was similar in 2003, he said.

Conservationists said they know wildfires have diverted funding, but question why the Forest Service hasn’t made the restoration a priority in terms of money.

“They can find $16.9 million to finish the restoration,” Koehler said. “Why don’t they?”

According to information from the Native Forest Network, about 95 miles of roads have been upgraded, which is about 19 percent of the 500 agreed upon, and 14.2 of 45 miles of road have been obliterated. The network said reforestation is about 31 percent complete, while stream restoration and fish habitat improvements are 100 percent complete.

“The point is, by putting off restoration, there’s avoidable damage going on,” said Larry Campbell of Friends of the Bitterroot.