Montana Wilderness News

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Restoration Act is included in the Senate's Interior Department appropriations bill, giving it a chance of passage in the 2012 federal budget.

The bill provides annual funding for the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs and U.S. Forest Service wildland fire management.

The 183-page bill was released Friday.

Last summer I took my 2-year-old daughter fishing on Rock Creek
- her first foray on this blue-ribbon trout stream, one that my
father had taken me to. We kept two brown trout for dinner. As I
was preparing the pan I let her fondle the fish. I looked down and
told her that we would be eating them for dinner. She looked at the
fish she was holding, looked at me, and then took a big ol' chomp
out of one of the trout. I exclaimed, "Cid, we gotta cook 'em
first!" She just looked up at me and smiled.

By Luke Morgan Allgeyer - Letter to the Editor | Posted: Friday, June 10, 2011 12:00 am

When polled, visitors to Montana cite clean water, clean air,
wildlife, scenic vistas and open space as their top five reasons
for visiting the state - five reasons that all stem from Montana's
wild places. Furthermore, beyond the realm of tourism, most, if not
all, members of the state's various communities have something to
be thankful for regarding Montana's wilderness.

As the 112th Congress convened, Sen. Jon Tester reintroduced the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act as Senate Bill 268. The bill was first introduced in July 2009. Sen. Tester has dedicated nearly two years crafting a piece of legislation emphasizing forest restoration, job creation, enhanced recreation and wilderness designation. Through unprecedented public involvement, repeated revisions and transparency, Tester has delivered a bill to Washington that embodies Montana's traditional land values and current need for healthy forests.

A Montana senator's proposal to break the state's quarter-decade wilderness drought while boosting supplies for the region's ailing timber industry drew cautious praise yesterday from the Obama administration and a surprise endorsement from the leader of a ranching group.

The U.S. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources heard testimony Wednesday mainly in support of Sen. Jon Tester's revived Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, a few hours after a telephone conference call involving Rep. Denny Rehberg and others opposed to the bill.

Bravo to the members of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project whose op-ed recently appeared in the Missoulian (April 28). Key to their success has been the inclusive nature of developing the agreed-upon management approach.

However, the authors encourage passage of Sen. Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation Act to build upon and complete the work they have begun. Until the iconic landscapes are permanently protected for wildlife habitat and as sources of clean water, the work isn't yet done.

As required by my provision in a recent federal law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week removed Montana's wolves from the endangered species list and returned their management to state biologists. It is a bipartisan victory that recognizes Montana's wolf recovery as a success. As your senator, it's my job to find solutions that are right for Montana, no matter how controversial or tough the issue is.

Many Montanans are closely watching the ongoing debate over how
to get more timber and restoration work done on Forest Service
lands in Montana at a landscape level, while further protecting
clean water and wildlife habitat. But as that larger debate goes
on, it is important to take stock of the smaller success stories
already under way.

The Blackfoot and Clearwater watersheds are home to one of those
stories.

MISSOULA- Montana Senator Jon Tester made a stop in the Garden City
on Saturday to speak to members of the Hellgate Hunters and Anglers.

Tester spoke strongly about the importance of outdoor programs in
Montana in light of proposed Congressional cuts to hunting and fishing
programs.

" It doesn't matter if you are Democrat or Republican or Libertarian
or Independent. We all know Montana's outdoor traditions are worth
fighting for and passing onto our kids and grandkids," Tester stated.