Public Lands Planning Monday, June 27, 2016 Challis Community Event Center 6:00 8:00 p.m. Participants

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Austin Lee
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1 Public Lands Planning Monday, June 27, 2016 Challis Community Event Center 6:00 8:00 p.m. Participants Rob Thornberry, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Jim Hawkins, Custer Natural Resource Advisory Committee Harriet Henderson, Custer NRAC Michael Gibson, Trout Unlimited Jeff Richards, Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game Rob Mason, The Wilderness Society Chuck Mark, Salmon-Challis National Forest Jeff Hunteman, SCNF Liz Townley, SCNF Kristen Pelz, Region 4 Forest Service Sarah Baker, University Idaho Custer Extension Gloria Jakovac, Idaho Falls District BLM Dani Mazzotta, Idaho Conservation League Brian Rich, ICL Sahra Beaupre, Outfitter Adam Beaupre, Outfitter Mark Davidson, The Nature Conservancy Mindy Crowell, Salmon Valley Stewardship Madison Harper, SVS Gina Knudson, SVS Collaborative Structure We talked about what a formal collaborative structure would look like, using the Whitefish Range Partnership from the Flathead National Forest plan revision as an example. (Slides attached) Participants expressed the opinion that we weren t ready to talk about a formal collaborative. During this outreach/formative phase, community members will be more likely to engage in informal meetings about topics or around selected geographies. Creating a shared value statement might help people decide if their participation would be worthwhile. Excerpts from Whitefish Range Partnership statement: Our shared vision for the Whitefish Range is to ensure a balance of traditional and modern land uses. The unique qualities of this mountain region should be maintained, and the Range should continue to provide multiple-use values including both motorized and non-motorized recreation, sustainable forestry, wildland restoration, hunting, fishing and unique opportunities for backcountry solitude 1

2 In order that this region remain rural in its nature, and that our public access be maintained, and that our neighbors be educated about the region s unique values, and that we sustain the historic traditions for which the Whitefish Range has come to be known, we must work in a collaborative manner. If we do not act deliberately and do not plan together for changing times, the future of this place almost certainly will be decided by others. Wilderness Evaluation Method Liz Townley, the SCNF Middle Fork District Ranger, gave a presentation in response to a May 17 question about how wilderness will be evaluated differently than previous wilderness evaluations (Roadless Area Review and Evaluation or RARE). She provided the following hand-out. 2

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5 Timetables SCNF Supervisor Chuck Mark provided the following information: 5

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7 Gloria Jakovac, Idaho Falls District BLM planner, said the BLM is requesting funding so they can tackle the first steps of plan revision assessment. Opportunities for Collective Action Dani Mazzotta of ICL and Rob Mason of TWS reported they and other conservation organizations have been working for the past 18 months to encourage the BLM and the Forest Service to synchronize their planning processes. The groups recently sent the agencies a 3 ½ page letter providing justification for this request. Other participants in the meeting agreed that this was a logical approach and reasonable request given the small population size and the ability to save time and resources. The group agreed that we should encourage other collaborative participants to send a similar letter or create a letter for group sign-on. Salmon Valley Stewardship and the Salmon Valley Trails Committee is sponsoring a multi-user trail work weekend in Lemhi County the first weekend in August. The idea is to get local users and visitors, motorized and non-motorized trail users working together to better understand differing perspectives and needs. Free camping, food, transportation, and entertainment will be provided and everyone is welcome. More information about the Aug 5-7 event is at: Next Steps The Salmon meeting will be on June 28. Discussions from Challis meeting will be brought to Salmon participants for feedback. All group members will get notes from both meetings. 7

Government housing may be available

Government housing may be available OUTREACH ANNOUNCEMENT Region 4 Middle Fork Ranger District Trails Technician (Wilderness Ranger) GS-462-7 permanent seasonal Reply Due: December 18, 2015 Announcement # 16-0413-204800FS-KJ The Middle Fork