Here in Kalispell, very possibly by coincidence, three events related to land management policies are occurring within 12 days of each other this month. All pertain to authority and control of public lands, which is being challenged nationally and more specifically here in Western Montana, where the U.S. Forest Service is being targeted.

The Flathead National Forest has been operating under a 1986 management plan that has been amended on a continual basis. An updated plan had been developed, but due to federal political events, failed to be implemented in 2006 when scheduled.

The first of these meetings has already taken place. On Thursday, Dec. 5, there was an orientation meeting for Flathead National Forest work sessions which will be held from December to May. 

The purpose is to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute to the plan revision process of the Flathead Forest. Topical work groups were launched to remain active until a final combined meeting May 14.

Two meetings are still upcoming:

On Friday, Dec. 13, Utah Rep. Ken Ivory, president of the American Lands Council will discuss the “transfer of federal lands to the states.”

Ivory is attempting to organize Western states to achieve transfer of federally controlled lands to the ownership and control of the states as was historically and legally intended and provided by our Founding Fathers. This presentation on Transfer of Public Lands Act legislation affecting Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and Nevada will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Flathead County fairgrounds in Kalispell.

On Monday, Dec. 16, Kirk MacKenzie, president of Defend Rural America, will discuss “How to reclaim Montana’s lands.” There will be two different presentations, both at the Best Western Flathead Lake Inn at the intersection of U.S. 93 and Montana 82 in Somers. A public officials workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is reservation only (call 650/967-5679).

A presentation for the general public will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

MacKenzie will introduce his plan for immediate implementation by local elected officials for restoring productive use, control and management of public lands in Western Montana. State legislators, county commissioners, and sheriffs will be provided in-depth training in the process.

The Ivory and MacKenzie plans are both directed at the need to correct poor management practices which have resulted in problems in land management (primarily by the U.S. Forest Service in this area) even to the point of threatening health and safety of citizens and serious damage to the forests, environment and wildlife.

Ken Ivory is using legislation at state levels to gain state ownership as was promised at the time of the establishment of the original 13 states. This will likely be challenged legally and constitutionally and may take many years and millions of dollars to accomplish. But benefits would be derived from the much needed united effort by Western states to address this and other problems unique to this part of the nation.

Kirk MacKenzie is offering a solution utilizing the united forces of local elected officials to assume the management of public lands. His philosophy is that government must be brought back to local levels, where the expertise and management knowledge is available and where the motivation to correct faulty practices is the strongest.

It would have the benefit of immediacy of action in dealing with forest situations which have reached critical levels — in particular, issues dealing with fire hazard, air and water pollution, loss of watersheds, and destruction of forest health. 

These must be addressed IMMEDIATELY, not waiting years for federal legislation likely to be encumbered by mediation and/or litigation, then ultimately if successful, requiring time-consuming action planning and implementation. No other emergency stopgap measures have thus far been effectively proposed at any level, current or future, in any other plan.

Actually these three plans complement each other as they address both the short-term, immediate needs critical to the forest management, as well as the long-term management policies and determination of title and ownership.

Ryan is a resident of Bigfork.