Outdoor news
Forest recreation
The Flathead National Forest will discuss recreation opportunities during its regular no-host breakfast meeting at the Night Owl/Back Room Restaurant in Columbia Falls on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 a.m. Forest Service employees will share information on capital investments, the current budget, partnerships and possible new opportunities, including a livery services. RSVP by contacting Wade Muehlhof at ewmuehlhof@fs.fed.us or 406-758-5252.
Instream water
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will accept public comments on the Forest Service’s application for 27 cubic feet per second of instream water rights for fish in Coal Creek, up the North Fork, through Oct. 10. Comments can be sent to Water Resources Regional Office, 2705 Spurgin Road, Building C, P.O. Box 5004, Missoula MT 59804-5004 or by calling 406-721-4284.
Wild raptors
Flathead Audubon and the Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center will team up Saturday, Sept. 13, for birders to get up close and personal with eagles, hawks, owls and other injured or recovering birds at the only federally-permitted rehabilitation facility in the Flathead Valley. The field trip is limited to 25 persons and will take about two hours. Families and individuals of all ages are welcome. Sign up by e-mailing Doug MacCarter at dsmaccarter@gmail.com or calling 602-663-8611.
Work day
Flathead Audubon’s annual volunteer Work Day at the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area will take place Saturday, Sept. 20. Volunteers will meet at the Montessori School, 349 Willow Glen Drive, in Kalispell at 8:30 a.m. to carpool to the trailheads. Work will be done by 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Richard Kuhl at 257-5793.
Wilderness panel
The 2014 Fall Mansfield Conference, titled “The Storied Past, the Troubled Future: The Imperative of Wilderness at 50 Years,” will be held Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 10-12, at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana. The conference will focus on roles Montana and Montanans have played in pursuing, establishing and realizing wilderness. Featured speakers include David James Duncan, Holmes Rolston, Sharman Russell, Doug Scott, Pat Williams and Donald Worster. All sessions are free and open the public, however RSVPs are requested. To view a complete schedule of events and to register, visit online at www.umt.edu/ethics/events/wilderness-conference.