Yaak Valley Forest Council

WORKING FOR A WILD YAAK THROUGH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND BOLD ACTION.

THE HEADWATERS RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, CONCEIVED AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH RELEVANT STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO IMPROVE HABITAT FOR NATIVE FISH SPECIES, CONTINUES TO GATHER FIELD DATA TO INFORM POTENTIAL RESTORATION PROJECTS WITHIN THE YAAK RIVER WATERSHED. THE YVFC HEADWATERS CREW MAINTAINS AND MONITORS 20 IN-STREAM THERMOGRAPHS, WITH HOBO DATA LOGGERS, THAT RECORD WATER TEMPERATURE EVERY HALF HOUR. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USEFUL IN ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON LOCAL WATERS. DURING 2021 THE CREW CARRIED OUT STREAM SEDIMENT SURVEYS AT 86 SITES, WHILE CLEANING DEBRIS FROM MOST CULVERTS THEY ENCOUNTERED. THIS DATA ENABLES YVFC TO RECOMMEND ROAD DECOMMISSIONING AND STABILIZATION PROJECTS TO THE KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST. THREE SUCH PRIOR PROJECTS WERE PHOTO-DOCUMENTED BY YVFC IN 2021. IN CONJUNCTION WITH FLATHEAD LAKE BIOLOGICAL STATION, YVFC SET UP PROTOCOLS FOR A WATER QUALITY TESTING PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH BASELINE CONDITIONS IN THE YAAK RIVER WATERSHED. THEY ALSO COMPLETED A RESTORATION PROJECT ON PRIVATE LAND WHICH INVOLVED STABILIZING A 150 FOOT LONG SECTION OF ERODED BANK OF THE YAAK RIVER.

A TOP PRIORITY OF THE FOREST WATCH PROGRAM IS TO MONITOR AND RESPOND TO, THROUGH THE NEPA PROCESS, PROJECTS PROPOSED FOR THE KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST, AND PARTICULARLY THE THREE RIVERS RANGER DISTRICT. IN 2021, YVFC ATTENDED PUBLIC MEETINGS HELD BY THE FOREST SERVICE TO INTRODUCE THE PUBLIC TO THE KNOTTY PINE PROJECT. IN ADDITION TO SUBMITTING COMMENTS AND OBJECTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION, FOREST WATCH STAFF ALSO CONTACTED RESIDENTS IN THE KNOTTY PINE PROJECT AREA AND SHARED WITH THEM A TEMPLATE FOR COMMENTING ON THE PROJECT. ATTACHED TO YVFC'S COMMENT LETTER WAS A REPORT ON INSUFFICIENT ROAD BARRIERS IN THE PROJECT AREA, BY WHICH MOTORIZED USERS CAN ACCESS ROADS THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY CLOSED. ANOTHER PRIORITY FOR FOREST WATCH WAS TO PRODUCE A MAP AND BROCHURE PROMOTING THE SOUTHERN REROUTE OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIL, WHICH YVFC BELIEVES IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE YAAK'S PRECARIOUS GRIZZLY BEAR POPULATION. FOREST WATCH IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING A NUMBER OF STRATEGICALLY PLACED CAMERAS, WHICH YIELD INFORMATION ON USE OF THE TRAILS BY WILDLIFE AND HIKERS. IN ADDITION, BOTH THE BLACKTAIL AND THE DODGE SUMMIT TRAILS ARE MAINTAINED BY FOREST WATCH STAFF.

YVFC'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM ENGAGES WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF YAAK AND TROY, AND BEYOND, THROUGH THEIR BEAR AWARE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES TRAINING IN THE USE OF BEAR SPRAY, AND LENDING BEAR PROOF CANISTERS FOR STORAGE OF FOOD OR GARBAGE; BY PUBLISHING A BIENNIAL NEWSLETTER; BY PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL APPLE FESTIVAL IN TROY; THROUGH SPONSORING THE ANNUAL LINCOLN COUNTY PHOTO CONTEST, WITH A GRAND PRIZE OF 300. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, YVFC ARRANGED FOR THE SHOWING OF THE FILM, "THE BEAST OF OUR TIME," ALONG WITH A POETRY READING BY MARC BEAUDIN, AT THE TROY THEATER. AND AS MENTIONED ABOVE, FOREST WATCH STAFF MET WITH RESIDENTS IN THE KNOTTY PINE PROJECT AREA, IN AN EFFORT TO INFORM AND EMPOWER THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEPA PROCESS BY SUBMITTING COMMENTS TO THE USFS. YVFC ALSO MAINTAINS A FACEBOOK PRESENCE, TO KEEP UP WITH LOCAL SENTIMENTS REGARDING FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND TO CORRECT MISINFORMATION WHEN POSSIBLE.