A proposed expansion of motorized trails on Blacktail Mountain has rankled local residents who have elicited the support of a conservation group and filed a formal appeal with the U.S. Forest Service.
Officials from the Swan Lake Ranger District were scheduled to meet on Aug. 28 with the group opposing the Island Unit Trail System Additions Project.
After an environmental assessment returned with a Finding of No Significant Impact, the ranger district approved the development of 41.6 miles of new motorized trails, largely on old roads winding throughout Blacktail Mountain near Lakeside. Another 17.68 miles of existing roads would be transitioned into dual-designated trails for motorized and non-motorized traffic. The project also included the creation of 11.46 miles of new non-motorized, single-track trail connecting the Foys to Blacktail Trail and the south summit of Blacktail Mountain.
District Ranger Richard Kehr signed the decision June 29, saying the project would provide “high-quality motorized and non-motorized recreational trail opportunities on the Island Unit while at the same time mitigating the effects of unauthorized motorized use.”
Longtime Blacktail Mountain resident Leslie Gray disagreed.
“They already have 127 miles of legalized trails. They don’t need anymore. It’s been proven by (motorized users’) actions that they cannot handle the responsibility of staying to the designated trails,” Gray told the Beacon. “This just opens another Pandora’s box for additional problems.”
Gray and Wildlands CPR, a conservation group based in Missoula, submitted joint opposition during the 45-day appeal period. A federal panel will review their concerns along with the ranger district’s complete project documentation before issuing a recommendation to Chip Weber, the forest supervisor for Flathead National Forest. Weber will have the final say on whether to uphold or remand the Island Unit project.
When Gray moved to Blacktail Mountain over 20 years ago, she was one of two residents. Since then a ski area has moved in and recreationists – motorized and nonmotorized – have flocked to the wooded forest only minutes from town.
“I’ve seen a lot of change and 99 percent of it hasn’t been great,” Gray said.
She said the increased popularity on Blacktail has degraded the land, harmed the wildlife and even led to lawlessness.
“People come up there and do their drugs and they leave their garbage and we’re just sick of it,” she said. “We’re sick to death of it.”
The expansion of motorized trails will only intensify the problems, she said.
The Swan Lake Ranger District sees it another way. Andrew Johnson, the project manager of the Island Unit proposal, said the new trails were intended to mitigate off-road abuse.
“We’re trying to provide legitimate places for people to go so we can stop them from going where they don’t belong,” he said. “Where we don’t have infrastructure, people will unfortunately take matters into their own hands.
“When you look at what his decision authorizes, it’s really aggressively trying to limit and minimize the effects of inappropriate activities.”
Johnson said several community and recreational organizations, such as the Foys to Blacktail Trail Group, collaborated on the project. The possible effects on wildlife, like grizzly bears and elk, were evaluated. Kehr signed the selected alternative that was designed specifically to minimize negative effects on wildlife, Johnson said.
Still, Gray and others remain opposed. To better combat the situation she recently organized the Blacktail Mountain Conservation Group. She said roughly a dozen members have joined.
Following the appeal review, Gray is prepared for possible litigation.
“We are hoping that it does not come to that but I will tell you that Blacktail Mountain and what they’re attempting to do will not be a precedent,” she said. “Depending on outcome of hearing, we will be going to litigation.”
Legal uncertainty aside, the new trails could begin being developed next summer, Johnson said.
For more information on the Island Unit Trail System Additions Project, visit www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=22659