REI boosts local outdoor groups
More than $15,000 was granted recently by Recreational Equipment, Inc., to four groups working to improve outdoor recreation in the Spokane region.
REI employees make nominations for the annual grants based on criteria that considers the group’s role in conserving recreation areas, promoting outdoor activities, involving youth and maximizing benefit to a broad range of people, said Joshua Hess of the Spokane store.
The 2006 recipients are:
Bicycle Alliance of Washington, $4,700, to continue advocacy the Fish Lake rail-trail, an important link in the Spokane regional multi-use trail system. When completed, this 10-mile trail will connect the communities of Spokane and Cheney by connecting the Centennial Trail to the Columbia Plateau Trail and the John Wayne Cross-State Trail. Contact: Louise McGrody (206) 224-9252 or www.bicyclealliance.org.
Conservation Northwest, $3,500, for its Colville National Forest Columbia Highlands Initiative efforts to build and maintain trails for non-motorized use. Contact: Derrick Knowles, (509) 747-1663 or e-mail derrick@conservation nw.org.
Fat Tire Trail Riders mountain bike club $2,200, for tools needed to expand the club’s work in trail projects that include restoration and erosion control. The Spokane-based group is affiliated with the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Contact: Penny Schwyn, (509) 448-0346 or www.fttrc.org.
YMCA Camp Reed, $5,000, for scholarships to deserving low income children to attend a week of traditional camp and participate in activities that include hiking, overnights, swimming, archery and more. Contact: (509) 838.3577 ext.142 or www.campreed.org.
Rich Landers
FISHERIES
Milltown drawdown affects trout
As expected, trout will suffer at least temporarily during removal of the toxic mining waste time bomb behind Milltown Reservoir on the Clark Fork River upstream from Missoula.
During recent reservoir drawdown, fingerling trout in downstream monitoring cages died of a bacterial infection, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA ordered a temporary halt to the drawdown of Milltown Reservoir, just short of goal of dropping the water level 10 feet this summer as a first step in the eventual removal of Milltown Dam and restoration of the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers.
“The combination of higher water temperatures and increased turbidity creates a nice environment for bacterial growth,” Forba said. “It was definitely related to the drawdown.”
Officials said the drawdown could be resumed near the end of August, when water temperatures, which recently spiked to near 70 degrees, begin declining.
Staff and wire reports