Outdoor news
Park grant
The Glacier National Park Conservancy recently announced a $20,000 challenge grant from the Windmill Foundation that will help with the $1.7 million request that the National Park Service submitted for 50 projects in the 2015 season. Four hundred people would need to donate $50 apiece to help GNPC win the $20,000 matching challenge. Last month, GNPC announced an initial grant of $450,000 to Glacier National Park for the 2015 season, an increase of $100,000 over 2013. For more information, visit online at http://glacierconservancy.org or call 892-3250.
Christmas trees
Christmas tree cutting permits are available for $5 for one tree at Forest Service offices in Kalispell, Hungry Horse and Bigfork and vendors across the valley. A complete list can be found online at www.fs.usda.gov/flathead. Maximum is two permits per household. Commercial permits are not available. For more information, call the Flathead National Forest Supervisor’s Office at 758-5204, the Hungry Horse-Glacier View and Spotted Bear Ranger Districts at 387-3800 or the Swan Lake Ranger District at 837-7500.
Federal lands transfer
Montanans For Multiple Use will host a debate between Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, and Rep. Ed Lieser, D-Whitefish, on the idea of transferring federal lands to the state’s jurisdiction at Flathead Valley Community College’s Arts and Technology Building, Room 139, on Thursday, Dec. 11, starting at 7 p.m. Both sides have agreed in advance that wilderness lands are not included in the proposal and will not be part of the debate.
Forest planning
The Flathead National Forest will host an open house forest planning sessions at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, in Kalispell, on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The meeting will cover vegetation modeling efforts in a follow-up to two sessions in August. Members of the Forest Plan revision team will be present, including a silviculturist, wildlife biologist and Region 1 analyst. For more information, contact Joe Krueger, Forest Plan revision team leader, at 406-758-5243.
Open burning ends
The fall open burning season ended Nov. 30. No open burning is allowed in the Western Montana Burn Zone, including Flathead County, until March 1, 2015, unless specific permission is obtained from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. For more information, visit online at www.burnclosures.mt.gov or call 406-444-3490.
Audubon bird counts
Dan Casey will present a talk about the Audubon Society’s 115th annual Christmas Bird Count at Flathead Audubon’s meeting at the Gateway Community Center, off U.S. 2 West in Kalispell, on Monday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. Casey has spent 28 years organizing and compiling the Bigfork count, 15 years with the Kalispell count and 21 years as editor for all Montana counts. His talk will combine anecdotes, summaries of trends, some “virtual birding,” and a wide variety of photos. The talk will conclude with preparations for upcoming Flathead Valley counts.
DEQ director
Gov. Steve Bullock recently appointed Tom Livers to be the new director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. He will replace Tracy Stone-Manning, who became Bullock’s chief of staff. Livers has been with the DEQ since it started in the 1990s and has served as the deputy director for 12 years. His appointment must be confirmed by the Montana Senate.
Winter classes
The Glacier Institute has added three new courses for the winter season: “Winter Ecology” on Saturday, Dec. 6, to explore the Lower McDonald Creek area to learn how plants and animals adapt to survive the harsh winters of Glacier National Park, cost $65; “North Fork Animal Tracking and Sign Interpretation” on Saturday, Jan. 10, with experienced tracker Brian Baxter, cost $65; and “Winter Birds of Prey” on Saturday, March 7, with rough-legged hawks, golden eagles and great gray owls during the winter months, cost $65. For more information, call 406-755-1211 or visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org.
State parks
Montana State Parks is seeking volunteers to serve on three citizens advisory committees. Members will meet about three times per year and will be reimbursed for travel expenses. The Snowmobile Advisory Committee advises the state on distribution of about $430,000 in grooming funds. The State Trails Advisory Committee provides advice on distribution of about $1.5 million for motorized and non-motorized projects. The Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee provides advice on distribution of $150,000 for motorized trail-related issues. Applications can be sent to Trails Advisory Committees, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701 or by e-mail to bshumate@mt.gov. Deadline is Dec. 15.