DOCSLIB.ORG

Chapter 4 Historic and Existing Conditions

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Chapter 4 Historic and Existing Conditions C H A P T E R 4 HISTORIC AND EXISTING CONDITIONS Chapter 4 contains analyses and descriptions of social, biological, and physical conditions as they existed historically, and compares historic conditions to current conditions. Social conditions include land settlement and occupation, land uses, transportation and access systems in the assessment area, and a social assessment of stakeholders. Social changes occurred as Euro-American settlers moved into the subbasins, which were occupied by Native Americans. Land use changed from hunting and gathering to agriculture, mining, and logging, and most recently to a more dispersed economy that includes recreation and tourist businesses, among others. Road systems grew from trails and early wagon roads to administrative roads and roads connected with timber harvest, some of which are now being decommissioned. Trails have changed from traditional or functional uses to recreational uses, and a large portion of the assessment area has been designated as wilderness. The assessment of historic and existing biological conditions and processes includes climate, air quality, geology and soils, hydrology and watersheds, aquatic habitat and species, landscape ecology, and terrestrial wildlife habitat and species. Fire suppression, as compared to historic fire regimes, appears to have had the most far-reaching effect of any factor on most of the biological elements of the assessment area. This is because the historic fire cycles, now disrupted, regulated pulse disturbances in the watersheds, not only affecting stream channels and water quality, but also changing plant communities and aquatic and terrestrial species habitat. Timber harvest and road building have affected terrestrial and aquatic conditions in some watersheds, causing shifts to press disturbance regimes. Portions of the area continue to function as strongholds for aquatic species. LAND SETTLEMENT AND OCCUPATION The Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater subbasins have seen numerous changes in land use patterns through the course of human involvement over the past 8,000 to 10,000 years. The region has experienced several waves of occupation over time, by groups of people including Native Americans, fur trappers and other mountain men, homesteaders, and early day Forest Service employees. These people interacted with the environment in various ways, extracting resources and manipulating it to their benefit. PREHISTORIC OCCUPATION Prehistorically, Native American groups, consisting mostly of ancestral Nez Perce (also known as Nimiipuu), but also including the Salish, and perhaps the Shoshone and Bannock) occupied this area throughout their seasonal movements. The first trails were created by these groups along the rivers and streams to areas including hunting and gathering areas in upland settings, adjacent areas such as the mountains and valleys of western Montana and east central Idaho, and the Salmon and Columbia River country. The first people to occupy this area may have arrived 8,000 to 10,000 or more years ago. The homes of the first known inhabitants of the Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater subbasins were temporary. Ancestors of the Nimiipuu inhabited the subbasins, and although they established seasonal and permanent villages, the people moved about the vast area to locations where more abundant food sources could be found according to the EARLY EURO -AMERICAN OCCUPATION seasons. The Nez Perce Tribe continues to have interests in various portions of the assessment area. The types of prehistoric Native American sites that can be found within the Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater subbasins include camp sites, possible village sites, hunting, fishing, and other food gathering sites, travel routes, and locations that may have religious or spiritual significance. These previously occupied areas are located throughout the Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater subbasins, from the highest elevations to the lowest river valleys. Artifacts associated with the activities which took place at all of these types of sites can also be found in the region. Very few of these sites have been excavated to date. However, sample excavations have occurred at a few sites along the Selway River in recent years, and they have produced materials that have yielded radiocarbon dates relating to the time of occupation of particular locations. From a site in the Moose Creek vicinity, two radiometric dates have been obtained. This site appears to have been occupied on at least two different occasions, around 2,580 and 1,150 years ago (Sappington and Turnipseed, 1997, p. 187). From another site located further up the Selway River, one prehistoric occupation is dated to about 3,060 years ago (Sappington and Turnipseed, 1997, p.190). From one site on the Selway River just upstream from its confluence with the Lochsa River, dates of about 1,070 (Armstrong, 1999) and about 700 years ago (Beta Analytic, 1999) were obtained. Several sites along the Lochsa River, which is adjacent to the Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater assessment area to the north, have also been excavated, and radiocarbon dates have been obtained from them as well. One site was initially occupied between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago, and the densest occupation occurred between 6,700 and 4,500 years ago. Still later, the site was occupied up until about 2,500 years ago. At another site just upstream from the confluence of the Lochsa and Selway Rivers, occupation dates range from about 2,800 to 150 years ago (Sappington and Carley, 1989, p. ii). There are also sites that have been used by Native Americans up to the present time. From these few examples, it is clear that the Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater subbasins have been occupied repeatedly over the last 10,000 years. The Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater subbasins were also major thoroughfares for traveling, as evidenced by the overall number and types of sites and artifacts found in the area. EARLY EURO -AMERICAN OCCUPATION The first Euro-Americans to establish a presence in this region were fur trappers, who were followed by missionaries, in the early to mid-1800s. Fur trapping continued into the 1900s, although on a smaller scale than in previous years. In the 1860s, gold was discovered in several areas of what are now the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests. Thousands of eager miners came through the region. There were attempts to extract gold within the Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater subbasin assessment area, but those efforts produced little in the way of economic gain for the individual miners. With this influx of people to the region, new trails and wagon roads were created, while existing routes were improved to accommodate the wagons and pack strings now regularly using these routes (USDA, Meadow Face EAWS, Draft, 1999, p. 78). As the regional gold rush subsided, the next wave of settlers came. When they first arrived, all of the lands were in public domain. If land seemed appropriate for settlement, it was surveyed and divided into lots. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed any person who was the head of a family or over age 21, and was a United States citizen or had declared the intention to become one, to secure a patent (deed) to 160 acres of the surveyed public domain. They could prove their claim by living on the land for five years, cultivating it, and making improvements. SELWAY AND MIDDLE FORK CLEARWATER RIVERS SUBBASIN ASSESSMENT 4-2 TWENTIETH CENTURY OCCUPATION AND FOREST SERVICE MANAGEMENT Homesteaders, cattlemen, sheepmen, and other ranchers and farmers arrived in the area. They generally established their homesteads and other facilities on the lower slopes and along the main rivers and streams. Houses, barns, sheds, fences, and other improvements to the land were constructed to support year round occupation. Several of these homesteads remain in private ownership to this day along the upper Selway River between Paradise and Moose Creek. By the late 1800s, communities outside the Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater subbasins (such as Elk City, Darby, and Hamilton) had been established to facilitate trade for miners and other settlers. By the early 1900s, “neighborhoods” developed in areas within the subbasins. TWENTIETH CENTURY OCCUPATION AND FOREST SERVICE MANAGEMENT BUREAU OF FORESTRY AND BITTER ROOT FOREST RESERVE The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Forestry, which became the Forest Service in 1905, became a presence in the area in 1897. This was to affect the character and subsequent development of the Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater subbasins thereafter. President Grover Cleveland designated all of the Lochsa-Selway country in Idaho, along with other lands in Montana as the 4,147,200-acre Bitter Root Forest Reserve in 1897. Starting in 1906, lands within the Forest Reserve could be authorized for homesteading only if they were valuable for agriculture. At this time, the General Land Office administered the forest reserve, while the U. S. Geological Survey performed the surveying and mapping efforts. John B. Leiberg of the U. S. Geological Survey created the first map of this region in 1898. The Forest Service secured land that suited its purpose for administrative sites and withdrew it from the public domain in 1907 and 1908. One of the first rangers in this area was George Ring, who was appointed to the position in 1899. He was instructed to patrol for fires and to suppress any he discovered. His territory included what is now most of the Clearwater National Forest. As the fledgling Forest Service was developing, additional "rangers" were employed. Fighting fires was their main objective, but other projects were also undertaken. Ranger Ring began clearing trails, and in 1905 supervised the initial construction of the Selway Trail (Parsell, 1990). FOREST SERVICE AND AREA NATIONAL FORESTS In 1905, the Forest Service was an official agency. It was originally part of the Department of the Interior, and after much discussion and internal pressure the Forest Service (and the previously created reserves) was transferred to the Department of Agriculture.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Outreach Notice
    Outreach Notice Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Forestry Technician (Wilderness/Trails) GS-0462-6/7 The Central Zone of the Nez Perce – Clearwater National Forests anticipates filling a permanent seasonal (18/8), Forestry Technician (Wilderness/Trails), GS-0462-06/07 position. The position will be stationed at the Moose Creek District office, the Fenn Ranger Station, but will work across the Moose Creek and Lochsa/Powell Ranger Districts, the two ranger districts that comprise the Central Zone. Interested applicants must submit the attached outreach response form to [email protected] by March 6, 2015. The vacancy announcement for this position has not yet been opened. Those who respond to this outreach will be contacted with the vacancy announcement number when it becomes available. When the vacancy opens, applicants will apply online at www.usajobs.com. Please direct any questions concerning this position to Katie Knotek at (406) 329-3708. ABOUT THE POSITION Series/Grade: GS-0462-06/07 Title: Forestry Technician (Wilderness/Trails) Location: Moose Creek Ranger District; Lowell, ID (physical location); Kooskia, ID (USAJOBS location). Tour of Duty: Permanent Seasonal (18/8), guaranteed 18 pay periods (36 weeks) annually The Position Duties Include: This position primarily performs a variety of work in support of the Central Zone’s trails and wilderness programs. Successful applicants will have a strong background in trail maintenance and construction, care and use of pack and saddle stock, crew leadership, and communication skills. Other duties include: Serves as technical specialist for the management and maintenance of both motorized and non- motorized trails, inside and outside wilderness, across the Central Zone.
    [Show full text]
  • Prescribed Burning for Elk in N Orthem Idaho
    Proceedings: 8th Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference 1968 Prescribed Burning For Elk in N orthem Idaho THOMAS A. LEEGE, RESEARCH BIOLOGIST Idaho Fish and Game Dept. Kamiah, Idaho kE majestic wapiti, otherwise known as the Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus canadensis), has been identified with northern Idaho for the last 4 decades. Every year thousands of hunters from all parts of the United States swarm into the wild country of the St. Joe Clearwater River drainages. Places like Cool­ water Ridge, Magruder and Moose Creek are favorite hunting spots well known for their abundance of elk. However, it is now evident that elk numbers are slowly decreasing in many parts of the region. The reason for the decline is apparent when the history of the elk herds and the vegetation upon which they depend are closely exam­ ined. This paper will review some of these historical records and then report on prescribed burning studies now underway by Idaho Fish and Game personnel. The range rehabilitation program being developed by the Forest Service from these studies will hopefully halt the elk decline and maintain this valuable wildlife resource in northern Idaho. DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION The general area I will be referring to includes the territory to the north of the Salmon River and south of Coeur d'Alene Lake (Fig. 1). 235 THOMAS A. LEEGE It is sometimes called north-central Idaho and includes the St. Joe and Clearwater Rivers as the major drainages. This area is lightly populated, especially the eaStern two-thirds which is almost entirely publicly owned and managed by the United States Forest Service; specifically, the St.
    [Show full text]
  • 2015 Idaho Wolf Monitoring Progress Report
    2015 IDAHO WOLF MONITORING PROGRESS REPORT Photo by IDFG Prepared By: Jason Husseman, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Jennifer Struthers, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Edited By: Jim Hayden, Idaho Department of Fish and Game March 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY At the end of 2015, Idaho’s wolf population remained well-distributed and well above population minimums required under Idaho’s 2002 Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. Wolves range in Idaho from the Canadian border south to the Snake River Plain, and from the Washington and Oregon borders east to the Montana and Wyoming borders. Dispersing wolves are reported in previously unoccupied areas. The year-end population for documented packs, other documented groups not qualifying as packs and lone wolves was estimated at 786 wolves. Biologists documented 108 packs within the state at the end of 2015. In addition, there were 20 documented border packs counted by Montana, Wyoming, and Washington that had established territories overlapping the Idaho state boundary. Additional packs are suspected but not included due to lack of documentation. Mean pack size was 6.4 wolves, nearly identical to the 2014 average of 6.5. Reproduction (production of at least 1 pup) was documented in 69 packs, representing the minimum number of reproductive packs extant in the state. Determination of breeding pair status was made for 53 packs at year’s end. Of these, 33 packs (62%) met breeding pair criteria, and 20 packs did not. No determination of breeding pair status was made for the remaining 55 packs. Mortalities of 358 wolves were documented in Idaho in 2015, and remained essentially unchanged from 2014 (n = 360).
    [Show full text]
  • Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA)
    Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) 01/01/2016 to 03/31/2016 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact. Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact R1 - Northern Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide) Nez Perce-Clearwater NFs - Land management planning In Progress: Expected:04/2017 05/2017 Zachary Peterson Forest Plan Revision NOI in Federal Register 208-935-4239 EIS 07/15/2014 [email protected] Est. DEIS NOA in Federal ed.us Register 01/2016 Description: The Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests are proposing to revise their two, individual forest plans as a single forest plan for the administratively combined Forests using the 2012 National Forest System Land Management Planning regulations. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=44089 Location: UNIT - Clearwater National Forest All Units, Nez Perce National Forest All Units. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Central Idaho. Upper Lochsa Land Exchange - Land ownership management On Hold N/A N/A Teresa Trulock EIS 208-935-4256 [email protected] Description: The Forest Service (FS) is considering a land exchange with Western Pacific Timber. The FS would receive approx. 40,000 acres of WPT land in the upper Lochsa River drainage and WPT would recieve an equal value of Forest Service land in north Idaho. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=26227 Location: UNIT - Sandpoint Ranger District, Palouse Ranger District, North Fork Ranger District, Red River Ranger District, Powell Ranger District , Clearwater Ranger District.
    [Show full text]
  • Clearwater Defender Is a Publication Of: Error
    ClearwaterNews of the BigDefender Wild Friends of the Clearwater Fall 2004, Vol. 2 No. 2 Wilderness on its terms Wilderness Through My Eyes By Gary Macfarlane By Carina Christiani The cold water of the creek, deep inside the Sel- Working at Friends of the Clearwater this way-Bitterroot Wilderness, numbed the pain of summer has opened my eyes to an entire new my smashed knee. I had crossed too carelessly world that I did not know existed until I walked and quickly, in spite of intuition or premonition through the doors of our office on a hot June af- to the contrary, and went down so fast I couldn’t ternoon. I encountered a vast network of people recall the fall. working together to protect these amazing lands We e n g a g e we call wilderness. I with wilderness on its was excited to be a part own terms, as I was of such an enthusiastic forcefully reminded and dedicated team of by my experience. wilderness advocates, This is by intent. The but before I was ready 1964 Wilderness Act to step in, I had to think describes wilderness about what wilderness as “untrammeled” by was in my mind – how humans. This does what I knew before this not mean trampled, internship was going to with which it is often change after just a few confused, but it means days in this place. unfettered or uncon- When thinking fined, allowing the free play of something. In other of the word wilderness, many different images words, wilderness is self willed land, a place we come to mind.
    [Show full text]
  • \^JMM7 Off Y, J£&U2^^___3
    NFS Form 10-900 0MB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service - W '_ Li L/ j NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES MAY 16 1990 REGISTRATION FORM NATIONAL This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of individual properties or districts. See instructions in "Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms" (National Register Bulleting 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable". For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10~900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property_______________________________________________ historic name Moose Creek Administrative Site other names/site number N/A Location street & number Nez Perce National Forest / /not for publication city, town Grangeville / X/vicinity state Idaho code 10 county Idaho code 0^9____zip code 83530 Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property __ private __ building(s) Contributing Noncontributing __ public-local X district 9 4 buildings __ public-State __ site ____ ____sites X public-Federal __ structure 1 1 structures __ object ___ ___objects ___ ___Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National ___________N/A___________________ Register______N/A_____________ State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this y nomination __ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CRF Part 60.
    [Show full text]
  • Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests Forest Plan Assessment
    Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests Forest Plan Assessment 15.0 Designated Areas June 2014 Table of Contents 15.0 Designated Areas ........................................................................................................ 15-1 15.1 Wilderness—Designated ....................................................................................... 15-1 15.1.1 Existing Information ...................................................................................... 15-1 15.1.2 Informing the Assessment.............................................................................. 15-4 15.1.3 Information Needs ......................................................................................... 15-5 15.1.4 References and Literature Cited ..................................................................... 15-5 15.2 Wilderness—Recommended ................................................................................. 15-7 15.2.1 Existing Information ...................................................................................... 15-7 15.2.2 Informing the Assessment............................................................................ 15-11 15.2.3 Information Needs ....................................................................................... 15-17 15.2.4 References and Literature Cited ................................................................... 15-17 15.3 Wild and Scenic Rivers—Designated ................................................................. 15-18 15.3.1 Existing Information ...................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Nez Perce National Forest EIS CE
    Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) 07/01/2008 to 09/30/2008 Nez Perce National Forest This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact. Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Projects Occurring Nationwide National Forest System Land - Regulations, Directives, Completed Actual: 04/09/2008 04/2008 Gina Owens Management Planning - Orders 202-205-1187 Proposed Rule [email protected] EIS Description: The Agency proposes to publish a rule at 36 CFR part 219 to finish rulemaking on the land management planning rule issued on January 5, 2005 (2005 rule). The 2005 rule guides development, revision, and amendment of land management plans. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/2008_planning_rule.html Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - All units of the National Forest System. Agency-wide. Projects Occurring in more than one Region (excluding Nationwide) Bitterroot Outfitters LLC (Tom - Special use management Developing Proposal Expected:10/2008 01/2009 Debra Gale Henderson), permit reissuance Est. Scoping Start 07/2008 406-821-1217 CE [email protected] Description: Reissuance of a priority outfitter guide permit for a term of 10 years Location: UNIT - Red River Ranger District, North Fork Ranger District, West Fork Ranger District. STATE - Montana, Idaho. COUNTY - Idaho, Lemhi, Ravalli. LEGAL - T25N, R13E, BM; T26N R12E BM; T26N, 12E, BM; T24N, R13E, BM; T26N, 13E, BM. Frank Church River of No Return, North Fork, Red river, West Fork Districts. 07/01/2008 Page 1 of 12 Nez Perce National Forest Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Projects Occurring in more than one Region (excluding Nationwide) Geothermal Leasing - Regulations, Directives, In Progress: Expected:12/2008 02/2009 Peter Gaulke Programmatic Environmental Orders DEIS NOA in Federal Register 703-605-4796 Impact Statement 06/13/2008 [email protected] EIS Est.
    [Show full text]
  • Idaho Wolf Hunting Guides
    Idaho Wolf Hunting Guides Midway Pasquale fanaticizing sociably or cruises dramatically when Kurtis is peachiest. Cornelius is untarred: she greasing hissingly and brangling her poorness. Ace is monastical: she oversimplify languishingly and spanglings her Thermidorian. Please contact us to provide for the guides are still have? To make it was an eye out of guided trip at rawhide outfitters offers, guide or wolf? It would be used if the wolf population in this site owner, wolf hunting land ranches or bull elk hunting out of idaho outfitter name contact with! If it is idaho offers guided elk hunting guides, guide and a rifle handy while robin brown called the best experience wolves are furnished. Where wolves have filled more are not necessary to idaho with a number and our spring and elk hunts in search for wildlife council to reduce those looking to. The wolf numbers down here is little to wolf hunting idaho guides. Monitor the nra, allowing the crew treated like that wants a tag cuts. Then setting do. Or drop off, call us for wildlife building at what if you have handy while the endangered species list, you are submitted. Hunting country on foot or over outfitter for an idaho wolf. New york with! They are on wolf hunting guides, guided hunts are steel cable bridges with! Drop camp area to hunt in the settlers came all camps are while baiting and the tent. This unit is available from challis national forest service to. The allreds team enjoy great property or similar to give you interested in? It will produce better than hunting is false pretenses while we will be from your basket are calling.
    [Show full text]
  • Departi4ent of the Interior United States Geological
    DEPARTI4ENT OF THE INTERIOR MISCELLANEOUS FIELD STUDIES UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP MF-1495-A PAMPHLET MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF THE SELWAY-&IIERROOT WILDERNESS IDAHO COUNTY, IDAHO, AND MISSOULA AND RAVALLI COUNTIES, MONTANA By Margo L Toth and Berton W. Coxe, U.S. Geological Survey and Nicholas T. Zilka and Michael M. Hamilton, U.S. Bureau of Mines · Studies Related To Wildemess Under the proVIsions of the Wildemess Act (Public Law 88-577, September 3, 1964) and the Joint Conference Report on Senate Bill 4, 88th Congress, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines have been conducting mineral surveys of wilderness and primitive areas. Areas officially designated as "wildemess," "wild," or "canoe" when the act was passed were incorporated into the National Wildemess Preservation System, and some of them are presently being studied. The act provided that areas under consideration for wildemess designation should be studied for suitability for incorporation into the Wildemess System. The mineral surveys constitute one aspect of the suitability studies• . The act directs that the results of such surveys are to be made available to the public and be submitted to the President and the Congress. This report discusses the results of a mineral survey of the Selway-Bitterroot Wildemess in the Clearwater National Forest, Idaho County, Idaho; the Bitterroot National Forest, Ravalli County, Montana, and Idaho County, Idaho; the Lola National Forest, Missoula and Ravalli Counties, Montana; and the Nez Perce National Forest, Idaho County, Idaho. The Selway-Bitterroot Wildemess was establi$hed as a pr~~itive area by the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Gifford Pinchot's 1896 Selway River Diary: an Introduction by Dennis
    Gifford Pinchot’s 1896 Selway River Diary: An Introduction by Dennis Baird Early in 1896, Secretary of the Interior Hoke Smith, bowing to considerable pressure, asked Wolcott Gibbs, the head of the National Academy of Sciences, to establish a National Forest Commission. Among those appointed to this Commission, which served without pay, was a single trained forester, Gifford Pinchot. A related body, the Special Committee, on which Pinchot had also served, had previously recommended a series of on the ground studies of potential forest reserves, and that areas in Montana, Idaho and Oregon “be regarded as of special importance.” On 11 June 1896, Congress authorized $25,000 for the work of the Commission—a good thing, since Pinchot, accompanied by a future Chief of the Forest Service, his friend Henry Graves, had already left for the west. The full Commission, which included conservationist John Muir as a member, arrived in Montana in mid-July. An early plan called for Pinchot to join Muir in Alaska, but in a letter to his father written from Missoula, Pinchot noted than plans had changed. Now, accompanied by Graves and joined by a serving Army officer, George Ahern [later to become Chief Forester of the Philippine Islands], Pinchot would travel from Hamilton, Montana to visit much of what would become the 4.15 million acre Bitterroot Forest Reserve. The diary of this important trip follows. Pinchot and his party left Hamilton for the Selway River valley, crossing into Idaho via Lost Horse Pass. They journeyed down the Selway to Moose Creek, and then up the valley of that stream to the ancient Nez Perce village site at Three Forks.
    [Show full text]
  • Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan
    IDAHO FIRE RESTRICTIONS PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION, SIGNATURES, PURPOSE, AND AUTHORITY 1 AREA DETERMINATION 2 PROCESS FOR FIRE RESTRICTIONS 2 INITIATION 2 IMPLEMENTATION 3 RESCISSION 3 PROCESS FOR CLOSURES & INFORMATION SHARING 4 APPENDIX 1: AUTHORITIES 5 APPENDIX 2: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 6 APPENDIX 3: AREA BOUNDARIES IN NARRATIVE FORMAT 8 APPENDIX 4: STAGE I AND STAGE II FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 13 (FAQS) APPENDIX 5: STAGE I AND STAGE II RESTRICTIONS & VOLUNTARY 20 MEASURES FOR IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS LOGGING OPERATIONS APPENDIX 6: DEFINITIONS 23 APPENDIX 7: AREA FIRE RESTRICTIONS COORDINATORS 24 APPENDIX 8: MAP OF IDAHO FIRE RESTRICTIONS AREAS 25 APPENDIX 9: FIRE RESTRICTIONS AREA PLANS AND MAPS BOISE 26 CENTRAL IDAHO 37 COEUR D’ALENE 40 EASTERN IDAHO 46 GRANGEVILLE 54 PAYETTE 60 SOUTH CENTRAL 69 WILDERNESS 77 APPENDIX 10: NEWS RELEASE, EXEMPTION, AND RESTRCTION ORDER 84 TEMPLETES APPENDIX 11: STAGE II EXEMPTIONS FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES AND 95 RAILROADS APPENDIX 12: FIRE RESTRICTION AREA CRITERIA EVALUATION FORM 101 Introduction The Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan is an interagency document that outlines interagency coordination efforts regarding fire restrictions and closures. An interagency approach for initiating restrictions or closures helps provide consistency among the land management partners, while defining the restriction boundaries so they are easily distinguishable to the public. Each restrictions area is encouraged to recruit any affected agency or landowner into restriction conversations whenever possible. Signatures All of the agencies signatories to the Idaho Statewide Annual Operating Plan are encumbered into Idaho’s Fire Restriction Plan. A unique signature page for this plan is not necessary. The agencies, Fire Manager’s, Idaho Chair, and Area Coordinators meet annually and review/ revise the fire restrictions plan before each fire season.
    [Show full text]