Outdoor news

Glacier National Park superintendent Jeff Mow and U.S. Geological Survey research ecologist Dan Fagre will speak about “Advancing Not Retreating, Glacier National Park is a Global Conservation Leader” at the Flathead Valley Community College’s Arts & Technology Building, Room 139, on Tuesday, April 14, from 7 to 8 p.m. The free community speakers event is sponsored by the Glacier National Park Conservancy and the Flathead Valley Community College.

Fisheries update

The Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Mark Deleray and his staff to provide an update on the state of the fisheries in Northwest Montana at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks offices, 490 North Meridian Road in Kalispell, on Tuesday April 21, beginning at 7 p.m. Deleray and his associates will share information on fish population trends, restoration efforts, and policy and regulation changes for our local rivers and lakes. For more information, contact chapter president Larry Timchak at 250-7473.

River birding

Flathead Audubon and Pete Fisher will lead an evening river walk to explore McWennegar Slough along the Flathead River on Saturday, April 18. This major wildlife corridor is home to 20 species of mammals and 170 species of birds, including trumpeter swans, soras, Virginia rails, great horned owls, river otters and beavers. Participants will meet at the McWennegar Slough Fishing Access Site on Highway 35 east of Kalispell at 5 p.m. and return around 7:30 p.m. Knee-high rubber boots are recommended. Participation is limited, so contact Pete Fisher at 250-9624 or e-mail fisherpete88@yahoo.com to sign up.

Invasive species class

The Glacier Institute will offer a free weeklong class about invasive species at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center on June 21-26. Students will experience real-life job situations and research methods through workshops with area experts. The week will culminate with a public exposition where teachers, parents, partner organizations and the public are invited to listen to the students. For more information, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org. Application deadline is April 26.

Forest roads

The Flathead National Forest cites warm weather, snow melt and spring rains creating soft road surfaces for implementing annual temporary road closures and load limits. Forest road managers will check conditions and sign roads as “closed” or assign a load limit as appropriate. For updated information, contact the Hungry Horse/Glacier View Ranger District at 387-3800, the Tally Lake Ranger District at 758-5204 and the Swan Lake Ranger District at 837-7500 or visit online at www.fs.usda.gov/flathead.

Bob volunteers

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is looking for volunteers interested in working on trails in the wilderness this summer. Projects vary from one to eight days deep in the wilderness area. The Foundation provides food, group gear, pack support and a skilled crew leader. The 2015  season kicks off with a National Trails Day celebration on June 6 in Lincoln with work on trails near the Indian Meadows trailhead. Other opportunities include a six-day trail clearing project in newly designated wilderness along the Rocky Mountain Front and a nine-day project on trails near the historic Big Prairie ranger station. For more information or to pre-register, visit online at www.bmwf.org.

Wilderness meeting

The annual Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex limits of acceptable change meeting will be held at the Choteau Public Library, 17 Main Avenue North, on Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Interested parties will discuss issues relating to the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat and Great Bear wilderness areas. To learn more, see the spring 2015 newsletter online at www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/flathead/specialplaces.

Camping regs change

New camping restrictions went into effect on all national forest in Montana effective January 2015. According to Regional Closure Order R1-2015-01, a person or group may not occupy a single location for more than 16 consecutive days, meaning an occupied undeveloped or developed camp site within a five air mile radius. After leaving a site that had been occupied for 16 consecutive days, a minimum of seven days must pass before the same person or group can reoccupy the original location. A person or group also may not leave camping equipment or related supplies at any location for more than 16 consecutive days.

Park talk

Glacier National Park superintendent Jeff Mow and U.S. Geological Survey research ecologist Dan Fagre will speak about “Advancing Not Retreating, Glacier National Park is a Global Conservation Leader” at the Flathead Valley Community College’s Arts & Technology Building, Room 139, on Tuesday, April 14, from 7 to 8 p.m. The free community speakers event is sponsored by the Glacier National Park Conservancy and the Flathead Valley Community College.

Fisheries update

The Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Mark Deleray and his staff to provide an update on the state of the fisheries in Northwest Montana at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks offices, 490 North Meridian Road in Kalispell, on Tuesday April 21, beginning at 7 p.m. Deleray and his associates will share information on fish population trends, restoration efforts, and policy and regulation changes for our local rivers and lakes. For more information, contact chapter president Larry Timchak at 250-7473.

River birding

Flathead Audubon and Pete Fisher will lead an evening river walk to explore McWennegar Slough along the Flathead River on Saturday, April 18. This major wildlife corridor is home to 20 species of mammals and 170 species of birds, including trumpeter swans, soras, Virginia rails, great horned owls, river otters and beavers. Participants will meet at the McWennegar Slough Fishing Access Site on Highway 35 east of Kalispell at 5 p.m. and return around 7:30 p.m. Knee-high rubber boots are recommended. Participation is limited, so contact Pete Fisher at 250-9624 or e-mail fisherpete88@yahoo.com to sign up.

Invasive species class

The Glacier Institute will offer a free weeklong class about invasive species at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center on June 21-26. Students will experience real-life job situations and research methods through workshops with area experts. The week will culminate with a public exposition where teachers, parents, partner organizations and the public are invited to listen to the students. For more information, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org. Application deadline is April 26.

Forest roads

The Flathead National Forest cites warm weather, snow melt and spring rains creating soft road surfaces for implementing annual temporary road closures and load limits. Forest road managers will check conditions and sign roads as “closed” or assign a load limit as appropriate. For updated information, contact the Hungry Horse/Glacier View Ranger District at 387-3800, the Tally Lake Ranger District at 758-5204 and the Swan Lake Ranger District at 837-7500 or visit online at www.fs.usda.gov/flathead.

Bob volunteers

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is looking for volunteers interested in working on trails in the wilderness this summer. Projects vary from one to eight days deep in the wilderness area. The Foundation provides food, group gear, pack support and a skilled crew leader. The 2015  season kicks off with a National Trails Day celebration on June 6 in Lincoln with work on trails near the Indian Meadows trailhead. Other opportunities include a six-day trail clearing project in newly designated wilderness along the Rocky Mountain Front and a nine-day project on trails near the historic Big Prairie ranger station. For more information or to pre-register, visit online at www.bmwf.org.

Wilderness meeting

The annual Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex limits of acceptable change meeting will be held at the Choteau Public Library, 17 Main Avenue North, on Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Interested parties will discuss issues relating to the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat and Great Bear wilderness areas. To learn more, see the spring 2015 newsletter online at www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/flathead/specialplaces.

Camping regs change

New camping restrictions went into effect on all national forest in Montana effective January 2015. According to Regional Closure Order R1-2015-01, a person or group may not occupy a single location for more than 16 consecutive days, meaning an occupied undeveloped or developed camp site within a five air mile radius. After leaving a site that had been occupied for 16 consecutive days, a minimum of seven days must pass before the same person or group can reoccupy the original location. A person or group also may not leave camping equipment or related supplies at any location for more than 16 consecutive days.