MCRAG provides update to county commissioners

SUPERIOR – The Mineral County Resource Advisory Group updated the Mineral County Commissioners at the April 25 meeting regarding the progress with the Forest Service. 

MCRAG had several meetings with the Forest Service the week of April 20. 

“We’ve done some research that was asked of us in preparation for the next meeting, and have gathered information to present to the Forest Service regarding carbon dioxide emissions and logged areas burned since 1980,” said Dennis Hildebrand, MCRAG member and conservation district supervisor. “That’s basically where we’re at. We haven’t come up with anything brand new.”

MCRAG is looking to use a volunteer structure to add to the group. However, the volunteers sought would be someone who has the background or expertise that can help review areas that have the most need. 

 “We should be working to think of other people who we can bring into the working group so it will be more of a diverse group,” said Commissioner Laurie Johnston. “They should also be from within the county versus everywhere else. But somebody who is more on the enviro side, but not too extreme.”

For example, one forester will have an area to take, which would be combined into their regular job. When the forester is out in the area, this person would also be responsible for observing the state of the forest and could alert Forest Rangers of areas that require forest cleanup projects. That person could also bring to attention some areas that need to be higher on the agenda to help get things going.

In a report by Jim Arney, who wasn’t present at the meeting, since 1980 Mineral County has lost at least 80,000 acres a year to wildfires. Arney stated that the Lolo National Forest in Mineral County should be growing at 400 board feet per year, with about 200 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Instead, the Lolo National Forest is declining at a rate of about 200 board feet per year with about one metric ton of carbon dioxide lost to the atmosphere per acre per year. 

If a wildfire occurs, then the forest would be projected to lose about 24,000 board feet per acre instantly and about 120 metric tons of carbon dioxide lost to the atmosphere per acre instantly.  

“The lack of regeneration forestry, which is the issue in my mind, the Forest Service is so paranoid about clear cuts and regeneration because of the opposition they wont even consider regeneration cuts anymore,” said Glenn Koepke, MCRAG member and retired forester. “They are afraid to make openings and regenerate.” 

MCRAG meets weekly with the Forest Service every Monday at the Superior Ranger District office in Superior. The Forest Service and Mineral County citizens are actively working on a plan which would ramp-up projects and cleanup in the Lolo National Forest area. 

The Forest Service will be in attendance for a meeting with the county commissioners on Wednesday April 30 at 1:15 p.m. in the county commissioner meeting room in the Mineral County Courthouse.