Glacier National Park Transitioning to Winter Operations

Although the park is accessible to the public year-round, fall and winter are seasons with low visitation, limited access, and reduced services. This time of year demands increased planning and preparation to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.

The boating season is coming to a close in Glacier National Park. All remaining open waters, including Lake McDonald, Bowman Lake, and Kintla Lake, will close to boating on November 1. Similar to 2019, west side waters will reopen to boating in May 2020 and east side waters will reopen in early June 2020. Precise dates will be released in early spring.

Most campgrounds have closed for the season. The Apgar Campground, located in the Apgar Picnic Area during the winter, and St. Mary Campground remain open year-round in primitive or winter status, which means that no running water is available. Potable water is unavailable on the east side of the park during the winter. For more information about Glacier’s campgrounds, visit the park’s campground status webpage.

Visitors are reminded that hiker-biker access is permitted on most closed roads at this time of year. Related risks include falling ice or rocks, road debris, and ice-covered or snowy road conditions.

Current road conditions, including closures, are posted on the park’s road status webpage. Current trail status information can be found on the park’s trail status webpage.

Most visitor centers and ranger stations have closed for the season. Park Headquarters is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. The Apgar Visitor Center is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Restrooms, potable water stations, and updated information are available in the Apgar Visitor Center plaza seven days a week.

For more information, visit the park website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm



Jeff
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Yellowstone road construction projects in 2020; More than $75 million will be invested to improve safety, access, and experience on park roads

There will be three major road construction projects in Yellowstone National Park in 2020. One project will have a complete closure between Tower Fall and Chittenden Road, while two projects will cause delays (North Entrance and Fishing Bridge to Indian Pond).

“Our staff does an amazing job planning and implementing these road projects to maximize improvements while minimizing the impacts to visitors and gateway communities,” said Superintendent Cam Sholly. “These construction projects are critical to improving safety, access, and visitor experience along Yellowstone’s roads.”

Addressing the deferred maintenance backlog is part of the National Park Service’s core mission to preserve national parks and provide a world-class visitor experience. In 2018, Yellowstone reported a conservative backlog estimate of $586 million, more than half of which is related to park roads. With the completion of these three road construction projects, the park will reduce its deferred maintenance backlog by at least $50 million.

1. Tower Fall to Chittenden Road

Improvements: This 6-mile segment of road remains largely unchanged since the last improvements in the 1930s. This construction project will widen the road and provide additional/improved pullouts; create a larger, safer parking area at Tower Fall General Store; and improve the trail and overlook for Tower Fall. To fund this project, the park received a grant through the Nationally Significant Federal Lands Program and will match it with fee dollars collected in the park.

Access: The road between Tower Fall and Chittenden Road will be completely closed until April 2022. Specific areas on each side of this closure will be open for select time periods. Check the Road Construction webpage for details about access to Mount Washburn, Tower Fall, the Tower General Store, and Tower Fall Campground.

2. North Entrance

Improvements: The North Entrance is not equipped to meet the challenges of increasing visitation and traffic. This construction will add an additional lane and kiosk to improve traffic flow and reduce lines; replace the existing two buildings with one larger building/station and two kiosks; improve the flow of employee and delivery traffic from Robert Reamer Avenue; improve pedestrian safety by realigning parking along Robert Reamer Avenue; and replace the water line along Robert Reamer Avenue. Funding for this project comes from the Federal Highways Administration, Yellowstone Forever, the National Park Foundation, and fees collected in the park.

Access: Beginning in early summer, expect delays around the North Entrance. The entrance station will be open. More details, including dates, will be available after a construction contractor is selected. This project will start in 2020 and take two years.

3. Fishing Bridge to Indian Pond

Improvements: Along this section of road, an earthen causeway has been in place since 1902 limiting Pelican Creek’s ability to flow naturally. Construction in 2020 will replace the Pelican Creek bridge and causeway with a viaduct to allow the wetland and creek to flow freely again. Crews will also put the finishing touches on work that started in 2018 to improve the deck, piers, and abutment of Fishing Bridge; add turn lanes to the facilities at Fishing Bridge; construct a larger, improved parking area to the east of the General Store; and widen the road and add/improve pullouts. Funding for this project comes from the Federal Highways Administration.

Access: From May 4 to October 30, 2020, expect delays along the East Entrance Road between Fishing Bridge and Indian Pond. This project will be completed in 2020.

The park completed a major road construction project in 2019. It was the second phase of the Norris to Golden Gate project which widened 4.5 miles of road, increased and improved pullouts, and improved the parking lot, trail, and kiosk at Obsidian Cliff. The third and final phase of Norris to Golden Gate is planned to begin sometime after the park finishes the Tower Fall to Chittenden Road section in 2022.

With winter weather conditions possible half the year, there is a small window from April through early November for repairing and maintaining park roads and bridges.

The park’s Road Construction webpage will be updated as new or more detailed information is available.



Jeff
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Sperry Chalet Re-build Complete

Last month I published a blog post that discussed our hike up to Sperry Chalet in Glacier National Park. In the post I noted that my and I had a discussion with the Park Project Inspector during lunch in the dining hall. He told us at that time that the construction phase of the Sperry Chalet dormitory, which was gutted during the Sprague Fire of 2017, was scheduled to be completed in early October. Though nothing has been formally announced by the park as of yet, the Hungry Horse News reported this past Wednesday that reconstruction of the interior has indeed been completed. The local newspaper stated that work crews left the site on October 11th.

The newspaper also noted that the Chalet will begin taking reservations for the 2020 summer season on January 13th.

For more information on the Sperry Chalet, please click here. For more information on the hike to the Chalet, please click here.



Jeff
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HikinginGlacier.com Adds 5 New Hikes to Online Trail Guide

This past September Kathy and I had the opportunity to visit Glacier National Park for almost three weeks. During our visit we hiked more than 140 miles throughout the Two Medicine, St. Mary Lake, Many Glacier, Logan Pass and Lake McDonald areas. Many of these hikes were on trails we've already covered on our website, HikinginGlacier.com, but felt they were important in order to provide improved photographs of the iconic scenery hikers will see along those routes. These photos have now been published throughout the site. In some cases we re-hiked trails to update the information previously published on the website. For example, we hiked up to Sperry Chalet to document the damage from the Sprague Fire of 2017 - not only the reconstruction of the historic Sperry Chalet dormitory, but also the damage to the forest you'll encounter as you proceed along the route to the chalet.

During our visit we were also able to hike a few new trails, which have just been added to the site. These are listed below.

All in all, our trip effectively resulted in a minor overhaul of the website. Roughly half the 68 hikes we cover on our site now have new and improved photos, as well updated information pertinent to hikers. Our online guide remains the most comprehensive resource for travelers as they plan their hiking itineraries for their visits to Glacier National Park. The hikes covered on our site are listed in alphabetical order, by difficulty level, by key trail feature, as well as by location within the park. We also provide lists of our top 10 hikes, and the best easy hikes to also help with all your planning needs.

Here are the new hikes we've added to the site:

Belly River Ranger Station - This hike visits the historic Belly River Ranger Station in the northeast sector of the park - just north of Many Glacier. The district contains several historic buildings, including the original ranger cabin constructed in 1912, making it one of the oldest continually manned ranger stations in Glacier National Park. The station also has the distinction of being the only ranger station in the park to be accessible only by trail. It's assumed that it was at least partially built by Joe Cosley, who was among the first six rangers to be hired by the new park. Cosley, a poacher, eventually resorted back to his hunting and trapping ways while working as a ranger. The description for this hike contains a few more details about this legendary figure from the early years of the park.

The Dragon's Tail - This is a great alternative if you're looking to avoid the extreme crowds at Hidden Lake Overlook. Although you'll start-off using the same trail, the "climbers route" to Mt. Reynolds and the Dragon's Tail splits off from the main trail after roughly a mile. Hikers will enjoy sweeping views of Hidden Lake and the surrounding mountains from the east and southeast side of the lake. I loved this hike so much that it now ranks 4th on my list of the top hikes in Glacier National Park.

Upper McDonald Creek Trail - This relaxing hike travels through a lush, old-growth forest more normally found along the Pacific Northwest Coast. Along this route you'll visit Sacred Dancing Cascade and McDonald Falls, and end with a spectacular view of Mount Cannon rising almost 5600 feet above the valley floor. This is a great alternative if you wish to avoid the crowds along the Trail of the Cedars.

Sun Point Nature Trail - This is another pleasant hike that offers outstanding views of St. Mary Lake. It also visits Baring Falls and St. Mary Falls.

S. Shore St. Mary Lake - After visiting St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls the trail continues to a rock outcropping that overlooks St. Mary Lake from its southern shore. From this vantage point, roughly one hundred feet above the lake, you’ll enjoy a commanding view of the peninsula that juts out into the lake across from Sun Point, as well as the mountains rising above the north and northwest side of the lake.



Jeff
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Reports about Yellowstone bears, wolves, and birds published online

Yellowstone National Park recently published online three reports from 2018 about bear management, wolves, and birds. Each annual report focuses largely on the health of these wildlife populations.

Topics from the Bear Management Program Annual Report include bear sightings, management of roadside bear viewing, bear mortalities, bear-human conflicts, bear-proof food storage locker installation and more.

Yellowstone’s Bear Biologist Kerry Gunther said, “There were few bear-human conflicts inside of the park in 2018; however, managing visitors that stopped to view and photograph bears foraging in roadside meadows and thus creating large bear jams was a considerable management challenge.”

Topics from the Bird Project Annual Report include monitoring of raptors, wetland birds, songbirds and near-passerine, fall migration, raven movements, and noteworthy and rare bird sightings.

Biologist Lauren Walker said, “We used five methods to monitor breeding songbirds in 2018: point counts in willow stands and mature forests, transects through plots in sagebrush steppe, a banding station, and the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). We recorded 35 songbird species within three willow growth types and captured at least 32 species at our banding station in a willow-lined riparian corridor. Observers recorded 24 species in mature forests and 29 species in sagebrush steppe. We also observed over 3,100 individuals belonging to 82 species along three BBS routes in the park.”

Topics from the Wolf Project Annual Report include pup survival, wolf pack summaries, and using radio collars to study wolves.

Doug Smith, Yellowstone Wolf Project leader says, “In 2018 we noted a drop in pup numbers, however there were no intra-species wolf killings, which is usually the reason for the most wolf mortality. This year marks a 10-year period of relatively stable wolf numbers. While the reasons for this are unknown, a relatively stable elk population is likely a large factor.”



Jeff
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Two Grizzly Bear Cubs Killed in Train Collision - breaks record for most in a single year

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks discovered two grizzly bear cubs that were killed on the railroad tracks southeast of Trego.

FWP staff was notified by the U.S. Forest Service on the evening of Oct. 15 of a possible bear carcass along the tracks. Upon investigation, FWP identified a dead female cub and another cub of unknown sex located on and near the tracks. It’s unclear when the cubs were killed. A BNSF Railway train was parked at the section of split tracks where the carcasses were located, and FWP notified BNSF Railway personnel at the scene. FWP staff did not locate the adult female that would have been accompanying the cubs.

This year to date, there have been 44 known or probable grizzly bear mortalities in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem across northwest Montana. Of those, eight have involved train collisions, the most in a single year on record.

The grizzly bear is listed as a threatened species in the lower 48 states under the federal Endangered Species Act.



Jeff
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Grand Teton National Park approves plan to remove non-native mountain goats

The National Park Service has signed a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Mountain Goat Management Plan/Environmental Assessment at Grand Teton National Park. The purpose of the plan is twofold: 1) aid in the conservation of a native population of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in the Teton Range whose status is tenuous, and 2) protect other park resources and values from the rapidly growing non-native mountain goat population.

Based on analysis in the environmental assessment and public comments, the decision allows the National Park Service to rapidly remove non-native mountain goats from the park by lethal and non-lethal (live capture and translocation) methods. The decision also includes modifications from the preferred alternative to include the use of qualified volunteers to assist in ground-based lethal removal activities, and allow for the donation and distribution of mountain goat meat that results from lethal removal activities. The National Park Service will develop a program to integrate qualified volunteers with its management program. The program will follow requirements provided in the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act.

The Teton Range is home to a small herd currently estimated at approximately 100 native bighorn sheep. This herd is one of the smaller and most isolated in Wyoming, and has never been extirpated or augmented. The Teton Range herd of native bighorn sheep is of high conservation value to the park, adjacent land and wildlife managers, and visitors.

The National Park Service has a responsibility to maintain the ecological role of and reduce the potential for local extinction of native bighorn sheep. Mountain goats are not native to Grand Teton National Park. Mountain goats threaten the native Teton Range bighorn sheep herd through increased risk of pathogen transmission and potential for competition.

Currently the non-native mountain goat population within the park is estimated at approximately 100 animals. Resident mountain goats within the park are likely descended from a population that was introduced outside the park.

Without swift and active management, the mountain goat population is expected to continue to grow and expand its distribution within the park. The mountain goat population is currently at a size where complete removal is achievable in a short time, however, the growth rate of this population suggest that complete removal in the near future may become unattainable after a period of about three years.

Implementation of the plan to remove non-native mountain goats from the park by lethal and non-lethal methods will begin this winter.

The decision document is available at parkplanning.nps.gov/mountaingoat.



Jeff
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Yellowstone to conduct prescribed fire to restore native vegetation

Yellowstone wildland fire staff will conduct a 16-acre prescribed fire on one day between October 16-24, weather dependent. The burn site is located in the northern section of the park, three miles northwest of Gardiner, Montana, and about a mile east of Stephens Creek.

The day of ignition, smoke may be visible in the afternoon for 3 to 6 hours.

The prescribed fire will consume 90% of the seeds of annual weeds (wheatgrass and desert alyssum) that impede native vegetation restoration. The results of using fire to restore native vegetation will inform current and future restoration efforts throughout degraded sagebrush and grassland systems in the West.



Jeff
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Outdoor Recreation Industry thriving in Wyoming and Nation according to study

A recent report from the federal government’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) indicates Wyoming’s Outdoor Recreation Industry is among the best in the nation in contributing to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

For the first time, the BEA has added Outdoor Recreation to their annual Economic Analysis and what they found is that it is a major driver of the nation’s and Wyoming’s economy and employment. What the report found is Outdoor Recreation in Wyoming contributes $1.6 billion to Wyoming’s economy or 4.4 percent of the state’s overall economy. States ranking ahead of Wyoming are Hawaii at 5.4%, Montana at 5.1%, and Maine at 4.8%. Other states include Florida at 4.3%, and Colorado and Utah tied at 3.3%.

“To us in the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Office and the Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites, this data doesn’t come as a surprise to us as we’re constantly meeting and working with those in the outdoor recreation industry,” Administrator Dave Glenn said. “What this data does tell us is that we have a vibrant and growing outdoor recreation economy and this is the tip of the iceberg.”

The news is even better in regards to employment, Outdoor Recreation which accounts for 23,036 jobs or 8 percent of total employment in Wyoming which is the highest in the nation. Those jobs also account for 4.7 percent of total compensation in the state, which is second in the nation behind Hawaii at 5.1 percent.

“Outdoor Recreation is pivotal to residents and visitors alike,” Gov. Mark Gordon said. “Many people visit, move and bring their businesses here to take advantage of the outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities available in Wyoming.”

The Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Office is working to expand those employment numbers even more through its support of the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Program at the University of Wyoming and the Outdoor Education and Recreation Leadership degree at Northwest College in Powell.

Locally, the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Office works to improve recreation economies by facilitating community stakeholder discussions. Make sure communities are aware of resources and opportunities to improve amenities and attract business based on local assets.

“Wyoming has done a phenomenal job leveraging our resources underground,” Glenn added. “Now we're going to build a thriving OR industry by leveraging our resources above the ground. We have more work to do"

The BEA study also indicates that the Outdoor Recreation Industry is growing rapidly nationwide, eclipsing the average increase in overall U.S. GDP. Overall, Outdoor Recreation grew by 3.9% in 2017 compared to the overall U.S. economy which grew by 2.4%.

“This study confirms what we’ve known for a long time,” State Parks and Cultural Resources Director Darin Westby said. “Wyoming is a great place to work and play and we’ve been expanding those opportunities throughout the state for quite some time.”

Nationally, according to the report, economic leaders in gross economic output are boating/fishing, RVing, motorcycling/ATVing, hunting/shooting/trapping and equestrian sports are the five largest conventional outdoor recreation activities. Snow sports rank as a close sixth on the list. These are all highly popular activities in the Cowboy State.

The full Bureau of Economic Analysis report on Outdoor Recreation can be found here https://www.bea.gov/data/special-topics/outdoor-recreation.



Jeff
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Alpine Areas of the Going-to-the-Sun Road Closed for the Season

Due to continued winter weather, Glacier National Park has determined that the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road will not reopen to vehicles this season.

The road typically closes between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook on or before the third Monday in October, weather and road condition dependent.

Visitors are reminded that hiker and biker access is permitted on most closed roads in Glacier National Park though risks include falling ice or rocks, and ice-covered or snowy road conditions.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and Logan Pass was closed on September 16 to allow for the completion of an ongoing pavement preservation project. The park intended to reopen the alpine section of the road after September 29, however the area was impacted by a significant snowstorm the day after the pavement preservation work was completed. Efforts to plow the alpine section of the road were hampered due to continued snowfall and avalanche activity.

Subsequent snowfall throughout the park on October 8 further delayed the opening of the alpine section of the road as crews focused on plowing needs throughout the park. The park’s road crew has successfully reopened Many Glacier Road, the Camas Road, and the portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road between the foot of St. Mary Lake and Rising Sun. The Two Medicine Road remains closed due to ice and snow.

Due to prolonged freezing temperatures forecasted for this week and the possibility of additional snow next weekend, the park will prioritize winter road preparations, including: removing guardrails in avalanche prone areas, winterizing the Logan Pass Visitor Center, and installing snow poles to aid plowing next spring.

Crews will begin removing 463 log railing pieces along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in advance of significant seasonal alpine avalanches. The steel-backed 8-foot log sections require 12 bolts each to attach to the roadway, and must be removed by hand. Failure to remove them could result in significant avalanche damage to the railings or roadway and potentially delay the opening of the road in the spring. The railing removal project typically takes two or three weeks, however unfavorable conditions including ice coating the bolts and railings can extend that timeframe or make removal impractical.



Jeff
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Being Bear Aware - Hyperphagia by the Numbers

Twenty chicken sandwiches, 10 large orders of french fries, 10 soft drinks and 10 milkshakes. That’s the approximate fast food order needed to total 20,000 calories, the amount Colorado Parks and Wildlife says a hungry black bear needs to consume every single day as they pack on the pounds to build up their fat reserves to survive winter hibernation.

While Coloradans are enjoying the sights and sounds of autumn, bears are reaching the peak of hyperphagia, an instinctive metabolic response to the changing seasons. Hyperphagia triggers a “feeding frenzy” to gain much-needed fat storage to help ensure winter survival. Bears will continue their intense search for food for up to 20 hours per day through mid-December, or when natural food sources are no longer available. As colder autumn weather brings frost and freezing to the state and natural food sources begin declining, bears may look to humans for easily accessible meals.

“Since early April, our staff has received nearly 5,000 bear incident report calls, and over half of those have been about bears finding food sources,” said CPW Interpretation and Wildlife Viewing Coordinator Mary McCormac. “If given a choice between foraging for food for 20 hours or getting all the calories needed from a few dumpsters in one alley, which would you choose? Bears are extremely smart and will try to get as many calories as quickly and as easily as they can before denning for the winter. That really puts it on us as humans to be responsible with our property, especially our trash.”

With the need to quickly build fat reserves, bears will seek out food sources that provide a higher caloric intake such as fallen fruit, nuts and especially the types of meals found in your trash can or bird feeders. Giving bears easy access to food allows them to become overly comfortable in populated areas. This often leads to bears becoming more aggressive and increases the possibility of a dangerous human-bear conflict.

“This time of year, CPW fields dozens of calls each day regarding bears turning over trash cans, entering homes and showing little to no fear of people when looking for food,” said McCormac. “The only reason we get so many of these calls is that people are being careless; not locking their doors, not securing their trash, keeping bird feeders out and generally not being careful when they know bears are looking for an easy meal. Living responsibly with bears is everyone’s responsibility.”

Bearproofing homes, cars and other personal property not only helps keep people safe, but it can also prevent conflicts and even the needless death of a bear.



Jeff
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Fall Pile Burning Projects to be implemented in Grand Teton

Teton Interagency Fire personnel will be burning slash piles created from fuel reduction projects along the Signal Mountain Summit Road and Pacific Creek Road as well as other areas of Grand Teton National Park this month. Firefighters will burn these piles under low fire behavior conditions resulting from wet weather and snow accumulation. Smoke may be visible from these pile ignitions during the day of the ignition and may linger in the area for a few days following ignition.

Firefighters have been focusing on a fuels reduction project along the Signal Mountain Summit Road to reduce vegetation along the road corridor and around the communications tower at the summit. This project, initiated in 2014, includes thinning and removing lower limbs from trees, and the removal of dead wood and brush from the forest floor. Firefighters place the slash from fuels reduction work into tepee-shaped piles and let them cure for a year before burning them.

Firefighters are also finishing up work on a project along the Pacific Creek Road leading to the Pacific Creek Subdivision. This fuels reduction project was designed to lower risk of losing structures to a wildfire and create more open areas that will help moderate fire behavior during a wildfire. Fuels reduction work also increases firefighter and public safety in the event of a wildfire. This area was previously treated in 2002 and 2005. The fuel loading along the road corridor has not been addressed in previous treatments and will also remove many dangerous hazard trees resulting from the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Crews started work in the summer of 2016 and generated approximately 350 slash piles to be burned.

Additional debris piles have been constructed around the park resulting from regular hazard tree removal and routine trail and road maintenance. These piles are also targeted for burning as conditions allow this fall.

Fuels reduction piles are only ignited under certain conditions, including favorable smoke dispersal and weather conditions that limit the chance of fire spread. The areas will be monitored by patrols after burning is completed. Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in pile burning operations.

Smoke from debris piles may be visible while piles are lit and burn down over the course of a few days. Fire management staff tend to the piles to assure complete combustion and consumption of all fuels and to monitor burning conditions for potential fire spread out of the pile area. Some smoke may linger in the pile area and in drainages as temperatures drop during the evening. Signs will be posted along travel routes and roadsides to remind travelers to use headlights for safe travel within the pile areas.



Jeff
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Senate bill increases funding for the National Park Service by $133 million

The United States Senate recently passed the Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations bill for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. If enacted, it would increase National Park Service funding by $133 million and improve funding for other federal agencies that support our parks’ wildlife, clean air and water. The increased funding commitment will better protect park resources, support jobs, address overdue park maintenance needs and enhance the experience for 330 million annual park visitors.

Statement by John Garder, Senior Director for Budget and Appropriations for the National Parks Conservation Association:

“Our national parks continue to face significant funding challenges for everyday operations and maintenance needs that help keep our most treasured places up and running safely for all to enjoy. This bi-partisan bill, through the leadership of Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and support of the committee, provides additional resources for rangers whose numbers have been on the decline for years, and helps fix crumbling park roads and aging facilities. The bill also shows strong oversight of the administration’s damaging effort to reorganize the Department of the Interior, in part by defunding it.”

Key provisions that benefit our parks include:

• Provides a $62 million, 2% increase for the operation of national parks, supporting park stewardship, overdue park repairs, visitor programs and park rangers.

• Restricts new funding for the reorganization of the Department of the Interior, which threatens the management of our parks, their resources, the employees of the National Park Service, and its partner land management agencies.

• Increases funding for Park Service federal land acquisition, better protecting Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Cumberland Island National Seashore and many other parks.

• Provides needed support for National Heritage Areas, supporting historic preservation and interpretation at communities throughout the country.

• Provides increases to address the Park Service’s nearly $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog, helping to fix our park roadways and aging infrastructure.

• Urges protections for Chaco Culture National Historical Park from new oil and gas development on adjacent federal public lands.



Jeff
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National Visitor Use Monitoring Surveys Occurring on the Flathead National Forest

The public will encounter Forest Service employees conducting interviews in developed and dispersed recreation sites and along forest service roads. They will be out in all types of weather conditions, wearing bright orange vests and be near a sign that says “Traffic Survey Ahead”.

The National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey is being conducted on the Flathead National Forest from October 2019 through Sept. 30, 2020. The information gathered is useful for forest planning as well as local community tourism planning. It provides National Forest managers with an estimate of how many people actually recreate on the National Forest, what activities they engage in while there and how satisfied people were with their visit. Economic impact to the local economy is also captured in the survey.

The survey gathers basic visitor information. Surveys are voluntary and all responses are confidential; names are not included. Interviews last about 10 minutes. Questions asked include: where you recreated on the Forest, how many people traveled with you, how long you were on the Forest, what other recreation sites you visited while on the Forest, and how satisfied you are with the facilities and services provided. About a third of the visitors will be asked to complete a confidential survey on recreation spending during their trip.

“Although the survey is entirely voluntary, participation is extremely important so we can assess visitor experiences on the Forest and strive to make it a better place to visit,” said Chip Weber, Forest Supervisor. “We would appreciate it if visitors would pull over and answer a few questions. It’s important for interviewers to talk with local people using the forest, as well as out-of-area visitors, so all types of visitors are represented in the study.”

Information about the National Visitor Use Monitoring program can be found at: https://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/nvum/



Jeff
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Restoration Work Complete on Trails Destroyed by 2016 Berry Fire

In their latest newsletter, the Grand Teton National Park Foundation has announced that trail crews have completed restoration work on all trails and trail structures that were damaged or destroyed during the 2016 Berry Fire, the largest wildfire in Grand Teton's history. Four crews completed the work this season on trails in the Webb, Owl, and Berry Canyons, as well as along the Glade Creek Trail. For more details on these projects, please click here.



Jeff
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Wild Lands Permanently Protected Near Glacier National Park

Earlier this week The Wilderness Society and the National Parks Conservation Association announced that more than 7,600 acres of oil and gas leases were permanently retired in the Badger-Two Medicine area near Glacier National Park. Moncrief Oil and Gas Master, LLC and The Wilderness Society announced that they reached an out-of-court settlement resulting in the permanent retirement.

The 7,640-acre Moncrief Oil lease, located on the Lewis and Clark National Forest, was first issued in 1982, and has been held by Moncrief for more than three decades. Moncrief’s lease was cancelled by the Department of Interior in early 2017. This action was challenged in the DC District Court and overturned, with the lease reinstated in June 2019. The district court’s ruling and lease reinstatement had been appealed by conservation, sportsmen, and Blackfeet interests and their appeal was pending before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals when the settlement was reached.

The 132,000 acre Badger-Two Medicine area has had a series of lease retirements over the past decade. In 2016, Devon Energy agreed that in return for sunk costs it would voluntarily relinquish its 15 leases within the Badger Two Medicine area (totaling 23,000 acres).

With today’s announcement on the relinquishment of Moncrief’s lease, there remains only one oil and gas leaseholder in the Badger Two Medicine area, Solenex LLC. The company’s 6,200 acre lease was cancelled by the government in 2016, but reinstated in 2018 after the D.C. District Court ruled for Solenex. This case is currently in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C.

Located between Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and the Blackfeet Indian reservation, the Badger-Two Medicine Area is within an area of Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front that Congress withdrew from future oil and gas leasing in 2006.



Jeff
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Over 70 miles of Medicine Bow National Forest trails cleared this past summer; wilderness solitude monitoring underway

The USDA Forest Service, in conjunction with Wyoming Conservation Corps, American Conservation Experience, and Wilderness Outreach, was able to commit resources to improving trails on the Laramie and Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger Districts over the course of the summer. With a focus on trails within wilderness, the Forest Service and trail crews were able to clear over 70 miles of trail this season in the Medicine Bow National Forest.

Accomplishments include clearing fallen trees from the entirety of system trails within the Savage Run Wilderness and Encampment River Wilderness, including clearing over 800 trees along the Encampment River Trail (470). Most trails in the Platte River Wilderness and Huston Park Wilderness have also been improved – including the complete clearing of Douglas Creek Trail (506), Platte River Trail (473), and Baby Lakes Trail (859). There are plans to continue trail maintenance and improvements in the 2020 season, dependent on funding.

The Forest Service would like to thank American Conservation Experience and Wyoming Conservation Corps for their combined 7,680 hours of work to clear trails, as well as Wilderness Outreach for their 960 total hours of work on the Douglas Creek Trail. Thanks to Common Outdoor Ground (COG) for collecting valuable planning information, such as the location and number of downed trees, through the Rapid Trail Assessment Project.

The Forest Service has partnered with COG, a community organization in southeast Wyoming, to monitor solitude conditions in the Huston Park and Encampment River wilderness areas. This partnership is possible in part thanks to the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, for the Wilderness Stewardship Performance grant awarded to COG.

Solitude monitoring includes recording encounters within wilderness areas during at least a four-hour period. Those interested in assisting with the solitude monitoring program may participate individually or through an organized group. Signage for the solitude monitoring program as well as monitoring handouts will be available at major trailheads of the Huston Park and Encampment River wilderness.

For more information about volunteering for the wilderness solitude monitoring program, contact: Meghan Kent, Wilderness Solitude Lead for COG, mghnkent@gmail.com

For more information regarding the wilderness solitude monitoring program and wilderness stewardship, contact: Rhaude Dahlinghaus, Forest Service Recreation Assistant, sarah.dahlinghuas@usda.gov



Jeff
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Governor’s Grizzly Bear Advisory Council to Convene in Helena

The Governor’s Grizzly Bear Advisory Council is convening for its first meeting this week in Helena. The council will gather Oct. 3-4 at the Kleffner Ranch, 305 Montana Highway 518, in East Helena. The meeting is open to the public.

The inaugural meeting will cover the objectives and structure of the council and set the stage for the group’s work over the next year. The meeting will feature presentations on grizzly bear biology and ecology, management, and legal specifications, as well as facilitated discussions on key issues and challenges. There will be an open forum for public comment on both days.

Shawn Johnson and Heather Stokes from the University of Montana’s Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy program will facilitate the meetings. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff will assist throughout the council’s tenure with a technical support team.

In March, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced his intention to appoint a citizen advisory council to facilitate a statewide discussion on long-term grizzly bear management and conservation. Bullock solicited applications for council membership beginning in April, seeking individuals with a diversity of views and commitment to working together on the future of grizzly bears in Montana. More than 150 people from across the state applied. Bullock worked in consultation with FWP before making his final selections.

Bullock announced the appointment of 18 Montana citizens to the new council in July. Bullock appointed the council to reflect the diverse group of people who have a connection to grizzly bears, including those who live, work, and recreate in bear country. The council is intentionally representative of the different parts of the state where grizzlies are currently or may soon be found.

Over the next year, the advisory council’s work will center around broad objectives including:

• Maintaining and enhancing human safety;
• Ensuring a healthy and sustainable grizzly bear population;
• Improving timely and effective response to conflicts involving grizzly bears;
• Engaging all partners in grizzly-related outreach and conflict prevention; and
• Improving intergovernmental, interagency, and tribal coordination.

For more information about the council, including an agenda for the upcoming meeting and a list of council members, visit http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/management/grizzlyBear/gbac.html.



Jeff
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