	Spring of 2012 This has turned into a photo gallery for Becky Braunig, our most faithful contributor! The photo to the left shows the North Fork river overflowing its banks near Ford Station. The one on the bottom left is from a trip up Trail Creek Road. Finally, the photo at the bottom right was taken earlier at the Hoilands. Enjoy! If you have pictures you would like to share, please send them along!

Sondreson Hall cleanup day Posted May 4, 2012 - Following is a message from Karen McDonough, Vice President for the North Fork Landowners' Association... Mark your calendar for SONDRESON HALL CLEAN UP DAY on May 26th, we will start at 10:00 AM. I look forward to seeing all of you North Fork "worker bee's" and to getting the hall all ready for the start of summer. Lee would like everyone who has a DRAW KNIFE to bring it to the event. Lee will have poles for a new fence and one of our activities for the day will be to get the poles ready for use. We also need tools (shovels, rakes, axes, saws, etc) to work on the site preparation for our new outhouse. Don't forget to bring your work gloves. Bring cleaning supplies and lots of energy!!!!!! A light lunch and drinks will be provided. See you soon, Karen McDonough Glacier Institute Volunteer Work Day Posted Apr. 19, 2012 - The Glacier Institute is holding its annual Volunteer Work Day on Saturday, May 5th this year. Volunteers are needed for cleaning, painting, light carpentry, and outdoor work such as raking, sweeping, and many other tasks. Volunteers are needed at both the Glacier Park Field Camp, located in Glacier National Park one mile north of West Glacier and our Big Creek Outdoor Education Center located on the North Fork Road, approximately 21 miles north of Columbia Falls. The Institute will provide lunch and dinner for participants. Volunteers may stay over at the camps but need to call to reserve a spot. Tools are not required, but are helpful; please bring carpentry tools, rakes, shop vacuums, wheelbarrows and work gloves. Interested volunteers, please RSVP by contacting the Glacier Institute at (406) 755-1211 or register@glacierinstitute.org. 2012 NFLA calendar is ready Posted Mar. 27, 2012 - The 2012 NFLA calendar is now ready for your review. There are many, many new activities this year including cribbage, a movie night, more dance classes, and new outdoor activities as well. All the old classics are also there including the annual picnic and pie & ice cream social. Take a look at the calendar and plan on joining in the fun. Don't forget, though, that the calendar will change throughout the summer. These changes will be posted on our calendar page as well as on sandwich boards placed each week in front of the Polebridge entrance and Sondreson Hall. Fire Mitigation Committee update Posted Feb. 19, 2012 - Molly Shepherd has posted a winter update for the Fire Mitigation Committee that includes information about the DNRC's award of a hazardous fuels reduction grant to the North Fork community, the 2012 renewal of the North Fork’s membership in FireWise Communities USA, the annual FireWise Day, and the Fire Mitigation Committee's application for membership in FireSafe Montana. Read Molly's full update on the Fire Mitigation Committee's web page. Christmas dinner at the hall Posted Dec. 26, 2011 - Those who were able to attend the Christmas dinner at Sondreson Hall said that it was a huge success. Around 40 people came to enjoy the holiday festivities. Steve Berg had his guitar, leading the Pettys and Wernicks in singing Christmas carols. On the way home, a light snow began to fall making it the perfect ending to a wonderful Christmas on the North Fork. Many thanks to the Caldwells and Heaphys for organizing this year's Christmas dinner and decorating the hall. North Fork history captured Posted Nov. 26, 2011- Members of the North Fork History Project were certainly busy this fall. They have completed several oral histories, three of which have been turned into files that can be downloaded from the internet. These include interviews with Larry Wilson, Ray Hart and Ivan Windsheimer. Check them out on the North Fork History Project page. Others that have been completed but are not yet available on the website include John Frederick and Cecily McNeil. The plan is to continue collecting these important oral histories next summer. We want to thank everyone who has been involved with this effort, especially the people who agreed to share their memories of an earlier North Fork with their friends and neighbors. If you have a question, comment or suggestion for the members of the North Fork History Project, send an email to NFhistoryproject@gmail.com. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the tales of Larry, Ray, and Ivan. Native grasses replace weeds Posted Oct. 14, 2011- Tris Hoffman, Forest Weed Coordinator for the Flathead National Forest, and members of the Montana Conservation Corps were up on the North Fork in the rain on Oct. 13th planting native grass seed. Using 1,200 lbs of seed, this dedicated crew worked on the Bowman airstrip, a few spots along the road to the airstrip, 90% of the Spruce Creek road, and the Polebridge boat launch where they and the NFLA Weed Wranglers pulled/sprayed weeds earlier this year. Thanks, Tris, for getting these seeds planted and all the hard work that you have done on the North Fork over the years to eradicate our noxious weeds. Weed Committee wins RAC funding Posted Oct. 14, 2011- The NFLA Weed Committee, Tris Hoffman from Flathead National Forest and the Flathead County Weed Department recently submitted and won a proposal from the Flathead County Resource Advisory Committee for 2011 funding.heir proposal stated two goals: 1) To locate and treat weed populations and 2) To educate private landowners about their role in identification and control of noxious weeds and revegetation of treated soil. Their plans for next summer include holding a Weed Wrangler Education Day to train teams of landowners to identify and map weeds. In addition, the USFS, NFLA, and Flathead County Weed Department will hold a Kneighborhood Knapweed Pull. Some additional exciting news is that they will be creating a model demonstration and education area at Sondreson Community Hall where weeds will be eradicated and the area revegetated with native grasses as a teaching tool for landowners. Congratulations to Val Cox and all her weed wranglers for putting together an excellent proposal. We're all looking forward to next summer and stamping out more weeds on the North Fork. You can download a copy of the final grant with all the details from here. Did you know? Posted Oct. 4, 2011- All of the minutes for all of the NFLA business meetings are available on the website. Check them out at the Documents / Meeting Minutes page. Also, there's a new page called the North Fork History Project. This was started by members of the NFLA who love and respect the oral and written histories of the North Fork. The purpose of this page is to exchange ideas about how that history might be captured and share some of the results. You can reach this page by clicking here. The page currently includes documents to help prepare for an oral history interview and wonderful short stories by North Forkers about North Forkers of the past. Eventually, the results of oral history interviews will be posted on this page as well. If you have questions or ideas about the North Fork History Project, please send email to NFhistoryproject@gmail.com or contact any member of the committee including its chairperson, Debo Powers. Covered areas for community announcements and information Posted Sept. 4, 2011- Over the years various approaches have been taken to notify the community of upcoming events and pass along useful information about weeds, wildlife protection and so forth. As a result, the front window of Sondreson Hall has been covered over with such notices. Members of the NFLA have proposed a solution. Plans are being drawn to build covered areas where members of the community can post notices and other useful information. It has been proposed that one covered area be set up in the Sondreson Hall parking lot and the other in Polebridge. The details for the construction and placement of these covered areas is still a work in progress. If you have suggestions or who would like to help with this project, please contact Molly Shepherd or Lee Secrest, or send email to Contact@nflandowners.org. Sondreson Hall gets some attention Posted Aug. 14, 2011- Last Saturday, August 13th, NFLA members and friends gathered at Sondreson Hall to perform maintenance. Organized by North Director Lee Secrest, the work party included Elmer Benson, Becky Braunig, Tom Edwards, Patti Hart, Mark & and Margaret Heaphy, Larry Kinsolving, Jenn Makulec, Karen and Gary McDonough, Stuart McPherson, Bob Nitychoruk, Lynn Ogle, Debo Powers, and Ted Ramon. Work completed included oiling the outside logs and porch, weed whacking, and pulling noxious weeds. The oil for the logs was donated by a very generous but anonymous member. In addition to preserving the beauty of Sondreson Hall, everyone had a good time being with friends and neighbors. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to help. Our new president, Debo, working hard already Tom, Gary, Lee and Elmer take on the south side History auction a success Posted July 26, 2011- More than 100 people joined their North Fork friends and neighbors last evening to bid on items as small as a cast iron matchbox holder and as historic as Harry Holcolm's vintage saddle horse. All in all over 100 items were auctioned and over $3,600 collected. The highest priced non-service item was an anonymously donated dulcimer for $250. The next was an original watercolor by Helen Huck Ramon donated by the Ramons for $160. The highest priced service was $330 for a dinner for 6 donated by the Harts. The next were the Northern Lights Saloon gift certificates for $220. And the crowd really enjoyed the kettle corn and soda sold by the McDonoughs bringing in over $60. The star of the evening was auctioneer Richard Hildner. He was engaging, entertaining, funny, and kept the bidding alive, no matter what. Richard was just one of many NFLA members who gave of their time to make the auction such a success. Our thanks go to each of these hard working folks. The NFLA History Committee has ambitious plans for collecting and cataloguing our North Fork heritage. They should now have the funds to make that plan a reality. If you missed the auction, it's not too late to contribute to this worthy cause. Send donation checks made out to the NFLA to P.O. Box 1603, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 or give a check to Bonny Ogle at the next NFLA business meeting that's coming up on August 6th. People shared information, views and ideas at the Summer 2011 Interlocal Posted July 27, 2011- The North Fork Landowners Association sponsored the 2011 Summer Interlocal on July 13th, 2011 at Sondreson Hall. This year’s meeting was well attended with over 30 landowners and 16 others representing various government and regional organizations. Local speakers included John Frederick from the North Fork Preservation Association, Don Sullivan from the North Fork Compact, Ray Brown from the North Fork Coalition for Health and Safety, and Debo Powers for the North Fork Landowners Association. Other speakers included David Prunty from the Flathead County Public Works, Jimmy DeHerrera from the Flathead National Forest, Scott Emmerich from Glacier National Park, Brian Manning from the DNRC, Ralph Montano from the US Border Patrol, Tim Thier and Tim Manley from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Rox Rogers from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Following are some highlights: There is an upcoming RAC-funded road improvement project planned whereby crush will be laid down starting at Polebridge and going 8-9 miles. There are several projects ongoing under the heading of Glacier View District Fuel Reduction Plan From Red Whale Project Decision. DeHerrera left a map at Sondreson Hall that details all of these projects. You can download a copy of this map from here. DeHerrera also announced that they would be spraying for weeds next to private property boundaries. Property owners affected by this spraying should have already received letters telling when that will be happening. Glacier National Park has plans to open the Inside North Fork Road as soon as possible. Border Patrol personnel are trained to handle emergency situations and provide help and support on the North Fork during emergencies. There is evidence that the deer and elk populations are coming back including an increase in the number of fawns this year and yearling bucks in the harvest last year. Wolf hunting will take place on the North Fork this year. There is a quota of two wolves. All of this information and more is available in a summary of the Interlocal meeting that can be downloaded from here. The NFLA would like to say thank you to all of the participants in this year’s very successful Interlocal, especially the representatives from organizations outside the North Fork who braved the road to attend. Also, our thanks go to Debo Powers for running the meeting. Debo did a good job of keeping up the momentum and finishing on time. We also want to say a special thank you to the staff from the Northern Lights Saloon who volunteered their time to buy, prepare, and serve lunch for over 40 people. Everyone at the meeting appreciated the good food and friendly faces. The Winter 2012 Interlocal has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, 2012 starting at 10am. More information about the host and the place will be posted when it becomes available. Sales of the Forest Service’s long-awaited Red Whale Project are underway Posted Feb. 4, 2011—Hungry Horse/Glacier View Ranger Jimmy DeHerrera reports that the Red Dwarf portion of the project was awarded last fall. Larry Roberts of LTL Forestry purchased the small sale, which abuts Red Meadow Drive. Reducing fuels on Forest Service property in the area has long been a priority for neighboring landowners and for the Fire Mitigation Committee. LTL elected not to start work until July, 2011. Work must be completed by the end of September, 2011. The principal portion of the Red Whale Project covers about 1040 acres and features both mechanical thinning and prescribed burning. The Forest Service accomplished some of the precommercial thinning last year with its own work forces. According to DeHerrera, the agency will do more precommercial thinning in the summer of 2011, both under contracts and with its forces. The commercial timber portions of Red Whale will be sold through two stewardship contracts. DeHerrera anticipates that the first contract will be awarded around the end of April. The purchaser will begin work in July. The second contract will be awarded around the end of June. Flathead Community Wildfire Protection Plan is available Posted Feb. 17, 2010—In December, 2009, the North Fork Landowners' Association's Fire Mitigation Committee revised and updated the North Fork Wildfire Mitigation and Planning Report. The committee undertook the revision in conjunction with Flathead County's revision of its Community Wildfire Protection Plan. For more information and access to the text of the North Fork report, visit the Fire Mitigation Committee web page.	Getting ready for the summer Posted May 14, 2012 - A good neighbor from near Ford Station reports that he's seen a large grizzly bear feeding on grass in the meadow. It could well be Patti Bear! Now is a good time to think about attractants that might have crept onto your property during the winter when our bears were asleep. See the 2011 Bear News newsletter for a checklist that you can use to make certain you've removed as many attractants as possible. And while you're thinking about springtime activities, check out this weed control guide from Murdoch's. NFLA Spring Newsletter is on its way Posted May 14, 2012 - The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here... the NFLA Spring Newsletter has arrived. Learn about all of the upcoming summer events, how to care for our bears, how to join the NFLA, and much more. You can also check it out on the Newsletter page where you can read and download a copy. This page also includes links to many prior newsletters as well. Our many thanks to Flannery Coats for taking on the task of being the NFLA Newsletter editor this year. She did a wonderful job and we're all very, very grateful. Let the summer begin. Interesting website for hiking the Whitefish Range Posted Apr. 17, 2012 - A good North Fork neighbor recently sent in an interesting website that includes lots of hike descriptions in the Whitefish Range. According to our source... It's a "peak bagger" site, but lots of walk ups listed. The intro to the range is okay, not 100%accurate. Looks like the into page was written by Blake Passmore who has been publishing new hiking guides to the Park. Here's the URL... enjoy. It won't be long before we can make these hikes! http://www.summitpost.org/whitefish-range-mt-bc/519551 Passing of two long-time North Forkers Posted Mar. 22, 2012 - Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Katie Wilson and Ivan Winsheimer, two long-time North Forkers who recently passed away. The North Fork Landowners' Association's History Committee were able to interview Ivan last summer, gathering his stories and memories of the North Fork. You can listen to this interview and those of others on the History Committee's page. Message from the Trail Creek Fire Company Posted Mar. 19, 2012 - Lynn Ogle from the Trail Creek Fire Company sent out an open letter talking about the upcoming fire season on the North Fork including information on the open burning rules, what to do in case of fire, and the status of a Flathead County fire station. Open and read Lynn's letter here. Open burning allowed Posted Mar. 6, 2012 - Spring open burning began March 1st and continues through June 30th. The forecast is updated weekdays before 8:40 am and information for the weekend will be posted. It's your responsibility to check. Burning manmade material is prohibited at any time. Please use caution when you burn. If you require additional information, call 751-8130. Read more about burning restrictions here. Moose Fire Ten Years Later Posted Jan. 24, 2012 - Jason Glenn from the Montana DNRC Stillwater State Forest sent a slide presentation of the Moose Fire then and now. Following the Moose Fire in 2001, DNRC established 18 photo points to document forest regeneration in the Coal Creek State Forest. These photos were taken in 2001, 2003, 2008, and 2011. This presentation shows a few of the photo points in 2001 and again in 2011. You can download the presentation from here. North Fork Patrol finds some trouble Posted Dec 19, 2011 - While on patrol, members of the North Fork Patrol skied into a cabin that had fresh vehicle tracks going to it (which it should not have)...unfortunately, it had just been broken into. The landowner was promptly notified. They wanted everyone to know that this had happened and remind folks to be watchful of any unusual activity (and record a license plate etc.). What is the North Fork Patrol? With the written permission of a landowner, the North Fork Patrol will check a property for evidence of trespass, illegal entry or poaching. All suspected illegal activity is reported to the landowners and the appropriate law enforcement agency. This community service is particularly useful in the winter when so many of the North Fork landowners are away. For more information about the North Fork Patrol and the people who have volunteered to provide this service, see the Contact page on this website. Donations to the North Fork Patrol are always welcomed. Thanksgiving dinner at the hall a success Posted Nov. 25, 2011 - Close to ninety neighbors from the North Fork and around came to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at Sondreson Hall yesterday evening. We were greeted with a beautifully decorated hall of colored streamers, holiday table cloths, candles, and delicious smells. Festivities began with young Lenny Triem leading the hall in the first verse of "American the Beautiful" then singing the second verse as a solo. Afterwards, Mark Heaphy gave the blessing and everyone lined up for the buffet. All of the traditional food was there including turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, gravy. Old family favorites were also present with creamed onions, brussels sprouts, cabbage as well as delicious salads and desserts. Everyone got to catch up with folks that they had not seen since the summer social activities ended and many who were going to be leaving for the season in the next few days had a chance to say goodbye. A great part of the success for this year's Thanksgiving feast was due to the hard work and organizational skills of Steve and Christina Berg. They had plenty of help, too. The Bergs, Joe and Jane Novak, as well as Bonny Ogle baked turkeys and Larry Wilson baked the ham. The Webers helped the Bergs on the two days that it took to set up the hall decorations. And Mark and Margaret Heaphy helped throughout, especially with the setup and serving. There were many, many others who helped prepare, serve, and clean up the hall afterwards. Our thanks to all of the volunteers who made this Thanksgiving such a huge success. Mark and Margaret Heaphy serving up Thanksgiving Safety tips for hunting season Posted Oct. 22, 2011- General rifle season begins today. That means there will soon be a lot more hunters on the North Fork, including local residents, folks from around the state, and out of state hunters. If you have not done so already, we recommend contacting the North Fork Patrol for advice on the best ways to mark your property against trespassing (see the Contact page for more information on the North Fork Patrol). Be sure to always wear orange when you go out hiking, even if you don’t plan to leave the main road or just around your property. And it’s a good idea to get an orange vest for your dogs, too! (Just make sure the girth is snug and doesn’t ride too far back on male dogs – we know of a certain dog who has had some trouble peeing in his orange suit…) For you hunters, please be considerate of others in the woods, pay attention to private property signage, and don’t leave gut piles or other attractants where they could attract bears and endanger your neighbors. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has a brochure with all the dates as well as a page with all the regulations, so don't break the rules. Stay safe, everybody! Drive with wildlife in mind Posted Oct. 22, 2011- It's not unusual for someone to hit an animal on the North Fork Road. Here is a news release by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks with some good suggestions on how to avoid such encounters. The ability to detect wildlife when you are behind the wheel is an essential skill in Montana where automobile collisions with wildlife are common. Most wildlife collisions occur at dawn and dusk. Deer are most often involved, though collisions with moose, elk, bighorn sheep, bears, coyotes and wolves also occur. What can a driver do to be safe, while also sparing the state’s wildlife? Most experts emphasize making a conscious effort to scan for wildlife on the road, in the ditch, and on the shoulders of the road continuously. Read more about what you can do to avoid hitting our wildlife here. This includes one rule that you may not know... If you do hit a deer, elk or other big game animal, remember that it is against the law to possess or transport the animal, or any portion of it, including the antlers. Meeting minutes posted Posted Oct. 18, 2011 - In addition to the draft meeting minutes for the NFLA October 1, 2011 business meeting, the minutes for the September 12th Board of Directors' meeting has also been posted to the NFLA Documents page. Check them both out. Food bank donations delivered Posted Oct. 14, 2011 - Food and other supplies were collected at the October 1 NFLA business meeting for delivery to the Columbia Falls Food Bank. The good news is that the total amount collected this year was 143lbs with an estimated value of $214. North Director Tom Edwards was kind enough to make the delivery to the Columbia Falls Food Bank on October 3rd. Our many thanks to Tom for taking this donation into town. We also want to thank everyone who participated this year. The bad news, however, is that this is approximately half of what was collected in 2010. There's always next year though. More events scheduled for this winter Posted Oct. 2, 2011 - At the last NFLA business meeting of the year held last evening, the membership voted to once again celebrate Christmas with a dinner on December 25th, hosted by the Caldwells and the Heaphys. Similar to Thanksgiving, this will be a potluck where the main dishes are provided and everyone is asked to bring a side dish and your own table setting. The doors open at 3pm and dinner is served at 4pm. There is also a rumor of a party to decorate the Hall in preparation for the dinner, so stay tuned for further details. Finally, a New Year's Eve party is not out of the question. Anyone who would like to volunteer to organize this even should get into contact with one of the members of the board. New documents for Sondreson Hall Posted Sept. 12, 2011- New documents have been written for Sondreson Hall's use. These include a Hall Use Policy for Community Events, a Hall Rental Policy, a new Hall Rental Agreement, and a document that outlines the Duties of the Host. Each of these documents are also available on the NFLA Documents web page. The most important change that these documents reflect is that Sondreson Hall may be used free of charge for all events that are open to the entire community as long as there is a sponsor who is a member of the NFLA. Check out these new documents and send any questions to Contact@nflandowners.org. The North Fork: Living with Wildlife Posted Sept. 7, 2011- "The North Fork: Living with Wildlife" is a joint NFLA/NFPA publication that outlines recommendations on how to live responsibly in wildlife habitat and suggests specific ways to minimize the chances of conflict with such animals as grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, deer, elk and moose. This is an excellent brochure for new and current landowners alike. It also includes some wonderful illustrations by Diane Boyd. You can download this brochure from here. Please feel free to reproduce and distribute as often as you like. Weed Wranglers at work Posted Aug. 23, 2011- On Friday, August 19th, the NFLA Weed Wranglers and four USFS folks pulled ten bags full of knapweed at the Polebridge River access, camping ground, and upriver fisherman's trails. In addition, Tris Hoffman of the USFS sprayed several larger patches of knapweed. NFLA volunteers included John Frederick, Carol Vuchetich, Linda Pittman, Debo Powers, Bridget Priest, Annemarie Harrod, Valerie Cox, and Domingo Dog the Wonder Worker. Thanks to all the Weed Wranglers for this effort. It will really made a difference. They vow to revisit the area next season for more eradication of those pesky weeds. Weed Wranglers, a job well done! Brief summary of the elections Posted Aug. 7, 2011- Last night were the NFLA elections. Debo Powers President, Betsy Holycross Past President, Karen McDonough Vice President, Lee Secrest North Director, Tom Edwards North Director (his position wasn't up for election last night), Allen McNeil for South Director, and Flannery Coats for South Director. Congratulations to all the new officer of the NFLA! Poaching reward paid out Posted Jun. 7, 2011- At Saturday’s NFLA Business Meeting Betsy Holycross announced that a poaching reward of $300 ($150 from the North Fork Patrol matched by the NFLA) was paid to Greg Puckett. Thank you Greg for your vigilance! Members are reminded that the poaching reward fund is there for a purpose and are encouraged to be on the lookout for poachers. For more information including who to call, see the Poaching Reward Fund posting on the NFLA Contact page. Fire Mitigation Committee meeting Posted Apr. 11, 2011— The Fire Mitigation Committee met in early April to plan activities for the 2011 fire season. Although details aren’t yet available, the committee expects to sponsor a workshop and field trip on forest insects and disease in late June. The workshop, which would serve as the North Fork’s annual Firewise Day, also would consider the relationship between wildfire susceptibility and dead and dying trees. In addition, the committee hopes to offer practical training and assessment for landowners who want to address wildfire risks around their home. The training may be offered in conjunction with Firesafe Montana. If the opportunity arises, the committee will apply for another cost-share grant to assist landowners with fuels reduction on their properties. Funds from our two previous grants have been exhausted. Check the Fire Mitigation Committee page on the NFLA web site for more information as the summer approaches. A cost share program available to landowners! Posted Apr. 7, 2011- At this winter’s interlocal meeting, Angel Rosario, from Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) talked about a special program available to landowners. It is the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), a multi-year contract program in which the NRCS will pay the landowner part of the cost for certain forest management practices after completion. Allowable practices include: pre-commercial thinning, slash treatment, tree planting, noxious weed control (chemical and biological), and fuel break (in conjunction with pre-commercial thinning.). The purpose of the program is to manage the forest for health and timber production. To be eligible, one of the following is needed: a forest management plan or forest stewardship plan, a prior record of timber harvest or revenue from timber sales or proof of capital investment on forest practices (thinning, tree planting, etc.). For more information, contact Angel Rosario: 133 Interstate Lane, Kalispell, 59901; 406-752-4242 Ext 104; angel.rosario@mt.usda.gov Deadline for applying is June 1 each year! Landowners invited to join forest stewardship Posted Apr. 3, 2011- Forest Stewardship workshops for landowners and forest managers are scheduled this summer in Kalispell, Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake, and Condon. The three-day workshops are offered through the Montana State University Extension Forestry Program, which has assisted more than 3,100 participants in developing plans to care for their forests, according to Cindy Bertek, forest stewardship coordinator in Missoula. Workshops will be held in Kalispell on July 21, 22 and 29; Yellow Bay on Aug. 18, 19 and 26 and Condon on Sept. 15, 16 and 23. Interested forest owners can request an application and obtain information by calling the MSU Extension Forestry office at 406-243-2773 or visiting http://www.forestry.umt.edu/extensionforestry.

Spring of 2012

This has turned into a photo gallery for Becky Braunig, our most faithful contributor! The photo to the left shows the North Fork river overflowing its banks near Ford Station. The one on the bottom left is from a trip up Trail Creek Road. Finally, the photo at the bottom right was taken earlier at the Hoilands. Enjoy!

If you have pictures you would like to share, please send them along!

Sondreson Hall cleanup day

Posted May 4, 2012 - Following is a message from Karen McDonough, Vice President for the North Fork Landowners' Association...

Mark your calendar for SONDRESON HALL CLEAN UP DAY on May 26th, we will start at 10:00 AM. I look forward to seeing all of you North Fork "worker bee's" and to getting the hall all ready for the start of summer.
     Lee would like everyone who has a DRAW KNIFE to bring it to the event. Lee will have poles for a new fence and one of our activities for the day will be to get the poles ready for use.
     We also need tools (shovels, rakes, axes, saws, etc) to work on the site preparation for our new outhouse.
     Don't forget to bring your work gloves.
     Bring cleaning supplies and lots of energy!!!!!!
     A light lunch and drinks will be provided.
     See you soon, Karen McDonough

Glacier Institute Volunteer Work Day

Posted Apr. 19, 2012 - The Glacier Institute is holding its annual Volunteer Work Day on Saturday, May 5th this year. Volunteers are needed for cleaning, painting, light carpentry, and outdoor work such as raking, sweeping, and many other tasks.
Volunteers are needed at both the Glacier Park Field Camp, located in Glacier National Park one mile north of West Glacier and our Big Creek Outdoor Education Center located on the North Fork Road, approximately 21 miles north of Columbia Falls.
The Institute will provide lunch and dinner for participants. Volunteers may stay over at the camps but need to call to reserve a spot. Tools are not required, but are helpful; please bring carpentry tools, rakes, shop vacuums, wheelbarrows and work gloves. Interested volunteers, please RSVP by contacting the Glacier Institute at (406) 755-1211 or register@glacierinstitute.org.

2012 NFLA calendar is ready

Posted Mar. 27, 2012 - The 2012 NFLA calendar is now ready for your review. There are many, many new activities this year including cribbage, a movie night, more dance classes, and new outdoor activities as well. All the old classics are also there including the annual picnic and pie & ice cream social. Take a look at the calendar and plan on joining in the fun.
Don't forget, though, that the calendar will change throughout the summer. These changes will be posted on our calendar page as well as on sandwich boards placed each week in front of the Polebridge entrance and Sondreson Hall.

Fire Mitigation Committee update

Posted Feb. 19, 2012 - Molly Shepherd has posted a winter update for the Fire Mitigation Committee that includes information about the DNRC's award of a hazardous fuels reduction grant to the North Fork community, the 2012 renewal of the North Fork’s membership in FireWise Communities USA, the annual FireWise Day, and the Fire Mitigation Committee's application for membership in FireSafe Montana.
Read Molly's full update on the Fire Mitigation Committee's web page.

Christmas dinner at the hall

Posted Dec. 26, 2011 - Those who were able to attend the Christmas dinner at Sondreson Hall said that it was a huge success. Around 40 people came to enjoy the holiday festivities. Steve Berg had his guitar, leading the Pettys and Wernicks in singing Christmas carols. On the way home, a light snow began to fall making it the perfect ending to a wonderful Christmas on the North Fork.
Many thanks to the Caldwells and Heaphys for organizing this year's Christmas dinner and decorating the hall.

North Fork history captured

Posted Nov. 26, 2011- Members of the North Fork History Project were certainly busy this fall. They have completed several oral histories, three of which have been turned into files that can be downloaded from the internet. These include interviews with Larry Wilson, Ray Hart and Ivan Windsheimer. Check them out on the North Fork History Project page. Others that have been completed but are not yet available on the website include John Frederick and Cecily McNeil. The plan is to continue collecting these important oral histories next summer.
We want to thank everyone who has been involved with this effort, especially the people who agreed to share their memories of an earlier North Fork with their friends and neighbors. If you have a question, comment or suggestion for the members of the North Fork History Project, send an email to NFhistoryproject@gmail.com.
Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the tales of Larry, Ray, and Ivan.

Native grasses replace weeds

Posted Oct. 14, 2011- Tris Hoffman, Forest Weed Coordinator for the Flathead National Forest, and members of the Montana Conservation Corps were up on the North Fork in the rain on Oct. 13th planting native grass seed. Using 1,200 lbs of seed, this dedicated crew worked on the Bowman airstrip, a few spots along the road to the airstrip, 90% of the Spruce Creek road, and the Polebridge boat launch where they and the NFLA Weed Wranglers pulled/sprayed weeds earlier this year.
Thanks, Tris, for getting these seeds planted and all the hard work that you have done on the North Fork over the years to eradicate our noxious weeds.

Weed Committee wins RAC funding

Posted Oct. 14, 2011- The NFLA Weed Committee, Tris Hoffman from Flathead National Forest and the Flathead County Weed Department recently submitted and won a proposal from the Flathead County Resource Advisory Committee for 2011 funding.heir proposal stated two goals: 1) To locate and treat weed populations and 2) To educate private landowners about their role in identification and control of noxious weeds and revegetation of treated soil.
     Their plans for next summer include holding a Weed Wrangler Education Day to train teams of landowners to identify and map weeds. In addition, the USFS, NFLA, and Flathead County Weed Department will hold a Kneighborhood Knapweed Pull. Some additional exciting news is that they will be creating a model demonstration and education area at Sondreson Community Hall where weeds will be eradicated and the area revegetated with native grasses as a teaching tool for landowners.
     Congratulations to Val Cox and all her weed wranglers for putting together an excellent proposal. We're all looking forward to next summer and stamping out more weeds on the North Fork.
     You can download a copy of the final grant with all the details from here.

Did you know?

Posted Oct. 4, 2011- All of the minutes for all of the NFLA business meetings are available on the website. Check them out at the Documents / Meeting Minutes page.

Also, there's a new page called the North Fork History Project. This was started by members of the NFLA who love and respect the oral and written histories of the North Fork. The purpose of this page is to exchange ideas about how that history might be captured and share some of the results. You can reach this page by clicking here.
The page currently includes documents to help prepare for an oral history interview and wonderful short stories by North Forkers about North Forkers of the past. Eventually, the results of oral history interviews will be posted on this page as well.
If you have questions or ideas about the North Fork History Project, please send email to NFhistoryproject@gmail.com or contact any member of the committee including its chairperson, Debo Powers.

Covered areas for community announcements and information

Posted Sept. 4, 2011- Over the years various approaches have been taken to notify the community of upcoming events and pass along useful information about weeds, wildlife protection and so forth. As a result, the front window of Sondreson Hall has been covered over with such notices. Members of the NFLA have proposed a solution.
Plans are being drawn to build covered areas where members of the community can post notices and other useful information. It has been proposed that one covered area be set up in the Sondreson Hall parking lot and the other in Polebridge.
The details for the construction and placement of these covered areas is still a work in progress. If you have suggestions or who would like to help with this project, please contact Molly Shepherd or Lee Secrest, or send email to Contact@nflandowners.org.

Sondreson Hall gets some attention

Posted Aug. 14, 2011- Last Saturday, August 13th, NFLA members and friends gathered at Sondreson Hall to perform maintenance. Organized by North Director Lee Secrest, the work party included Elmer Benson, Becky Braunig, Tom Edwards, Patti Hart, Mark & and Margaret Heaphy, Larry Kinsolving, Jenn Makulec, Karen and Gary McDonough, Stuart McPherson, Bob Nitychoruk, Lynn Ogle, Debo Powers, and Ted Ramon. Work completed included oiling the outside logs and porch, weed whacking, and pulling noxious weeds. The oil for the logs was donated by a very generous but anonymous member. In addition to preserving the beauty of Sondreson Hall, everyone had a good time being with friends and neighbors.
      Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to help.
work party
     Our new president, Debo, working hard already
  Tom, Gary, Lee and Elmer take on the south side

History auction a success

Posted July 26, 2011- More than 100 people joined their North Fork friends and neighbors last evening to bid on items as small as a cast iron matchbox holder and as historic as Harry Holcolm's vintage saddle horse. All in all over 100 items were auctioned and over $3,600 collected.
     The highest priced non-service item was an anonymously donated dulcimer for $250. The next was an original watercolor by Helen Huck Ramon donated by the Ramons for $160. The highest priced service was $330 for a dinner for 6 donated by the Harts. The next were the Northern Lights Saloon gift certificates for $220. And the crowd really enjoyed the kettle corn and soda sold by the McDonoughs bringing in over $60.
     The star of the evening was auctioneer Richard Hildner. He was engaging, entertaining, funny, and kept the bidding alive, no matter what. Richard was just one of many NFLA members who gave of their time to make the auction such a success. Our thanks go to each of these hard working folks.
     The NFLA History Committee has ambitious plans for collecting and cataloguing our North Fork heritage. They should now have the funds to make that plan a reality. If you missed the auction, it's not too late to contribute to this worthy cause. Send donation checks made out to the NFLA to P.O. Box 1603, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 or give a check to Bonny Ogle at the next NFLA business meeting that's coming up on August 6th.

People shared information, views and ideas at the Summer 2011 Interlocal

Posted July 27, 2011- The North Fork Landowners Association sponsored the 2011 Summer Interlocal on July 13th, 2011 at Sondreson Hall. This year’s meeting was well attended with over 30 landowners and 16 others representing various government and regional organizations.
Local speakers included John Frederick from the North Fork Preservation Association, Don Sullivan from the North Fork Compact, Ray Brown from the North Fork Coalition for Health and Safety, and Debo Powers for the North Fork Landowners Association.
Other speakers included David Prunty from the Flathead County Public Works, Jimmy DeHerrera from the Flathead National Forest, Scott Emmerich from Glacier National Park, Brian Manning from the DNRC, Ralph Montano from the US Border Patrol, Tim Thier and Tim Manley from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Rox Rogers from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Following are some highlights:

There is an upcoming RAC-funded road improvement project planned whereby crush will be laid down starting at Polebridge and going 8-9 miles.
There are several projects ongoing under the heading of Glacier View District Fuel Reduction Plan From Red Whale Project Decision. DeHerrera left a map at Sondreson Hall that details all of these projects. You can download a copy of this map from here.
DeHerrera also announced that they would be spraying for weeds next to private property boundaries. Property owners affected by this spraying should have already received letters telling when that will be happening.
Glacier National Park has plans to open the Inside North Fork Road as soon as possible.
Border Patrol personnel are trained to handle emergency situations and provide help and support on the North Fork during emergencies.
There is evidence that the deer and elk populations are coming back including an increase in the number of fawns this year and yearling bucks in the harvest last year.
Wolf hunting will take place on the North Fork this year. There is a quota of two wolves.

All of this information and more is available in a summary of the Interlocal meeting that can be downloaded from here.
The NFLA would like to say thank you to all of the participants in this year’s very successful Interlocal, especially the representatives from organizations outside the North Fork who braved the road to attend. Also, our thanks go to Debo Powers for running the meeting. Debo did a good job of keeping up the momentum and finishing on time. We also want to say a special thank you to the staff from the Northern Lights Saloon who volunteered their time to buy, prepare, and serve lunch for over 40 people. Everyone at the meeting appreciated the good food and friendly faces.
The Winter 2012 Interlocal has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, 2012 starting at 10am. More information about the host and the place will be posted when it becomes available.

Sales of the Forest Service’s long-awaited Red Whale Project are underway

Posted Feb. 4, 2011—Hungry Horse/Glacier View Ranger Jimmy DeHerrera reports that the Red Dwarf portion of the project was awarded last fall. Larry Roberts of LTL Forestry purchased the small sale, which abuts Red Meadow Drive. Reducing fuels on Forest Service property in the area has long been a priority for neighboring landowners and for the Fire Mitigation Committee. LTL elected not to start work until July, 2011. Work must be completed by the end of September, 2011.
The principal portion of the Red Whale Project covers about 1040 acres and features both mechanical thinning and prescribed burning. The Forest Service accomplished some of the precommercial thinning last year with its own work forces. According to DeHerrera, the agency will do more precommercial thinning in the summer of 2011, both under contracts and with its forces.
The commercial timber portions of Red Whale will be sold through two stewardship contracts. DeHerrera anticipates that the first contract will be awarded around the end of April. The purchaser will begin work in July. The second contract will be awarded around the end of June.

Flathead Community Wildfire Protection Plan is available

Posted Feb. 17, 2010—In December, 2009, the North Fork Landowners' Association's Fire Mitigation Committee revised and updated the North Fork Wildfire Mitigation and Planning Report. The committee undertook the revision in conjunction with Flathead County's revision of its Community Wildfire Protection Plan. For more information and access to the text of the North Fork report, visit the Fire Mitigation Committee web page.

Getting ready for the summer

Posted May 14, 2012 - A good neighbor from near Ford Station reports that he's seen a large grizzly bear feeding on grass in the meadow. It could well be Patti Bear!
Now is a good time to think about attractants that might have crept onto your property during the winter when our bears were asleep. See the 2011 Bear News newsletter for a checklist that you can use to make certain you've removed as many attractants as possible.

And while you're thinking about springtime activities, check out this weed control guide from Murdoch's.

NFLA Spring Newsletter is on its way

Posted May 14, 2012 - The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here... the NFLA Spring Newsletter has arrived. Learn about all of the upcoming summer events, how to care for our bears, how to join the NFLA, and much more.
    You can also check it out on the Newsletter page where you can read and download a copy. This page also includes links to many prior newsletters as well.
    Our many thanks to Flannery Coats for taking on the task of being the NFLA Newsletter editor this year. She did a wonderful job and we're all very, very grateful.
    Let the summer begin.

Interesting website for hiking the Whitefish Range

Posted Apr. 17, 2012 - A good North Fork neighbor recently sent in an interesting website that includes lots of hike descriptions in the Whitefish Range. According to our source... It's a "peak bagger" site, but lots of walk ups listed. The intro to the range is okay, not 100%accurate. Looks like the into page was written by Blake Passmore who has been publishing new hiking guides to the Park.

Here's the URL... enjoy. It won't be long before we can make these hikes!

http://www.summitpost.org/whitefish-range-mt-bc/519551

Passing of two long-time North Forkers

Posted Mar. 22, 2012 - Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Katie Wilson and Ivan Winsheimer, two long-time North Forkers who recently passed away.
The North Fork Landowners' Association's History Committee were able to interview Ivan last summer, gathering his stories and memories of the North Fork. You can listen to this interview and those of others on the History Committee's page.

Message from the Trail Creek Fire Company

Posted Mar. 19, 2012 - Lynn Ogle from the Trail Creek Fire Company sent out an open letter talking about the upcoming fire season on the North Fork including information on the open burning rules, what to do in case of fire, and the status of a Flathead County fire station.
Open and read Lynn's letter here.

Open burning allowed

Posted Mar. 6, 2012 - Spring open burning began March 1st and continues through June 30th. The forecast is updated weekdays before 8:40 am and information for the weekend will be posted. It's your responsibility to check. Burning manmade material is prohibited at any time. Please use caution when you burn. If you require additional information, call 751-8130.
Read more about burning restrictions here.

Moose Fire Ten Years Later

Posted Jan. 24, 2012 - Jason Glenn from the Montana DNRC Stillwater State Forest sent a slide presentation of the Moose Fire then and now. Following the Moose Fire in 2001, DNRC established 18 photo points to document forest regeneration in the Coal Creek State Forest. These photos were taken in 2001, 2003, 2008, and 2011. This presentation shows a few of the photo points in 2001 and again in 2011. You can download the presentation from here.

North Fork Patrol finds some trouble

Posted Dec 19, 2011 - While on patrol, members of the North Fork Patrol skied into a cabin that had fresh vehicle tracks going to it (which it should not have)...unfortunately, it had just been broken into. The landowner was promptly notified. They wanted everyone to know that this had happened and remind folks to be watchful of any unusual activity (and record a license plate etc.).
What is the North Fork Patrol? With the written permission of a landowner, the North Fork Patrol will check a property for evidence of trespass, illegal entry or poaching. All suspected illegal activity is reported to the landowners and the appropriate law enforcement agency. This community service is particularly useful in the winter when so many of the North Fork landowners are away.
For more information about the North Fork Patrol and the people who have volunteered to provide this service, see the Contact page on this website. Donations to the North Fork Patrol are always welcomed.

Thanksgiving dinner at the hall a success

Posted Nov. 25, 2011 - Close to ninety neighbors from the North Fork and around came to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at Sondreson Hall yesterday evening. We were greeted with a beautifully decorated hall of colored streamers, holiday table cloths, candles, and delicious smells. Festivities began with young Lenny Triem leading the hall in the first verse of "American the Beautiful" then singing the second verse as a solo. Afterwards, Mark Heaphy gave the blessing and everyone lined up for the buffet. All of the traditional food was there including turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, gravy. Old family favorites were also present with creamed onions, brussels sprouts, cabbage as well as delicious salads and desserts. Everyone got to catch up with folks that they had not seen since the summer social activities ended and many who were going to be leaving for the season in the next few days had a chance to say goodbye.
A great part of the success for this year's Thanksgiving feast was due to the hard work and organizational skills of Steve and Christina Berg. They had plenty of help, too. The Bergs, Joe and Jane Novak, as well as Bonny Ogle baked turkeys and Larry Wilson baked the ham. The Webers helped the Bergs on the two days that it took to set up the hall decorations. And Mark and Margaret Heaphy helped throughout, especially with the setup and serving. There were many, many others who helped prepare, serve, and clean up the hall afterwards. Our thanks to all of the volunteers who made this Thanksgiving such a huge success.

Mark and Margaret Heaphy serving up Thanksgiving

Safety tips for hunting season

Posted Oct. 22, 2011- General rifle season begins today. That means there will soon be a lot more hunters on the North Fork, including local residents, folks from around the state, and out of state hunters. If you have not done so already, we recommend contacting the North Fork Patrol for advice on the best ways to mark your property against trespassing (see the Contact page for more information on the North Fork Patrol).
     Be sure to always wear orange when you go out hiking, even if you don’t plan to leave the main road or just around your property. And it’s a good idea to get an orange vest for your dogs, too! (Just make sure the girth is snug and doesn’t ride too far back on male dogs – we know of a certain dog who has had some trouble peeing in his orange suit…)
     For you hunters, please be considerate of others in the woods, pay attention to private property signage, and don’t leave gut piles or other attractants where they could attract bears and endanger your neighbors. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has a brochure with all the dates as well as a page with all the regulations, so don't break the rules.
     Stay safe, everybody!

Drive with wildlife in mind

Posted Oct. 22, 2011- It's not unusual for someone to hit an animal on the North Fork Road. Here is a news release by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks with some good suggestions on how to avoid such encounters.
The ability to detect wildlife when you are behind the wheel is an essential skill in Montana where automobile collisions with wildlife are common. Most wildlife collisions occur at dawn and dusk. Deer are most often involved, though collisions with moose, elk, bighorn sheep, bears, coyotes and wolves also occur. What can a driver do to be safe, while also sparing the state’s wildlife? Most experts emphasize making a conscious effort to scan for wildlife on the road, in the ditch, and on the shoulders of the road continuously.
Read more about what you can do to avoid hitting our wildlife here. This includes one rule that you may not know... If you do hit a deer, elk or other big game animal, remember that it is against the law to possess or transport the animal, or any portion of it, including the antlers.

Meeting minutes posted

Posted Oct. 18, 2011 - In addition to the draft meeting minutes for the NFLA October 1, 2011 business meeting, the minutes for the September 12th Board of Directors' meeting has also been posted to the NFLA Documents page. Check them both out.

Food bank donations delivered

Posted Oct. 14, 2011 - Food and other supplies were collected at the October 1 NFLA business meeting for delivery to the Columbia Falls Food Bank. The good news is that the total amount collected this year was 143lbs with an estimated value of $214. North Director Tom Edwards was kind enough to make the delivery to the Columbia Falls Food Bank on October 3rd. Our many thanks to Tom for taking this donation into town.
We also want to thank everyone who participated this year. The bad news, however, is that this is approximately half of what was collected in 2010. There's always next year though.

More events scheduled for this winter

Posted Oct. 2, 2011 - At the last NFLA business meeting of the year held last evening, the membership voted to once again celebrate Christmas with a dinner on December 25th, hosted by the Caldwells and the Heaphys. Similar to Thanksgiving, this will be a potluck where the main dishes are provided and everyone is asked to bring a side dish and your own table setting. The doors open at 3pm and dinner is served at 4pm.
There is also a rumor of a party to decorate the Hall in preparation for the dinner, so stay tuned for further details.
Finally, a New Year's Eve party is not out of the question. Anyone who would like to volunteer to organize this even should get into contact with one of the members of the board.

New documents for Sondreson Hall

Posted Sept. 12, 2011- New documents have been written for Sondreson Hall's use. These include a Hall Use Policy for Community Events, a Hall Rental Policy, a new Hall Rental Agreement, and a document that outlines the Duties of the Host. Each of these documents are also available on the NFLA Documents web page.
The most important change that these documents reflect is that Sondreson Hall may be used free of charge for all events that are open to the entire community as long as there is a sponsor who is a member of the NFLA.
Check out these new documents and send any questions to Contact@nflandowners.org.

The North Fork: Living with Wildlife

Posted Sept. 7, 2011- "The North Fork: Living with Wildlife" is a joint NFLA/NFPA publication that outlines recommendations on how to live responsibly in wildlife habitat and suggests specific ways to minimize the chances of conflict with such animals as grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, deer, elk and moose. This is an excellent brochure for new and current landowners alike. It also includes some wonderful illustrations by Diane Boyd.
You can download this brochure from here. Please feel free to reproduce and distribute as often as you like.

Weed Wranglers at work

Posted Aug. 23, 2011- On Friday, August 19th, the NFLA Weed Wranglers and four USFS folks pulled ten bags full of knapweed at the Polebridge River access, camping ground, and upriver fisherman's trails. In addition, Tris Hoffman of the USFS sprayed several larger patches of knapweed. NFLA volunteers included John Frederick, Carol Vuchetich, Linda Pittman, Debo Powers, Bridget Priest, Annemarie Harrod, Valerie Cox, and Domingo Dog the Wonder Worker.
Thanks to all the Weed Wranglers for this effort. It will really made a difference. They vow to revisit the area next season for more eradication of those pesky weeds.

Weed Wranglers, a job well done!

Brief summary of the elections

Posted Aug. 7, 2011- Last night were the NFLA elections. Debo Powers President, Betsy Holycross Past President, Karen McDonough Vice President, Lee Secrest North Director, Tom Edwards North Director (his position wasn't up for election last night), Allen McNeil for South Director, and Flannery Coats for South Director.
Congratulations to all the new officer of the NFLA!

Poaching reward paid out

Posted Jun. 7, 2011- At Saturday’s NFLA Business Meeting Betsy Holycross announced that a poaching reward of $300 ($150 from the North Fork Patrol matched by the NFLA) was paid to Greg Puckett. Thank you Greg for your vigilance! Members are reminded that the poaching reward fund is there for a purpose and are encouraged to be on the lookout for poachers. For more information including who to call, see the Poaching Reward Fund posting on the NFLA Contact page.

Fire Mitigation Committee meeting

Posted Apr. 11, 2011— The Fire Mitigation Committee met in early April to plan activities for the 2011 fire season. Although details aren’t yet available, the committee expects to sponsor a workshop and field trip on forest insects and disease in late June. The workshop, which would serve as the North Fork’s annual Firewise Day, also would consider the relationship between wildfire susceptibility and dead and dying trees. In addition, the committee hopes to offer practical training and assessment for landowners who want to address wildfire risks around their home. The training may be offered in conjunction with Firesafe Montana.
If the opportunity arises, the committee will apply for another cost-share grant to assist landowners with fuels reduction on their properties. Funds from our two previous grants have been exhausted.
Check the Fire Mitigation Committee page on the NFLA web site for more information as the summer approaches.

A cost share program available to landowners!

Posted Apr. 7, 2011- At this winter’s interlocal meeting, Angel Rosario, from Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) talked about a special program available to landowners. It is the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), a multi-year contract program in which the NRCS will pay the landowner part of the cost for certain forest management practices after completion.
      Allowable practices include: pre-commercial thinning, slash treatment, tree planting, noxious weed control (chemical and biological), and fuel break (in conjunction with pre-commercial thinning.). The purpose of the program is to manage the forest for health and timber production.
      To be eligible, one of the following is needed: a forest management plan or forest stewardship plan, a prior record of timber harvest or revenue from timber sales or proof of capital investment on forest practices (thinning, tree planting, etc.). For more information, contact Angel Rosario: 133 Interstate Lane, Kalispell, 59901; 406-752-4242 Ext 104; angel.rosario@mt.usda.gov
     Deadline for applying is June 1 each year!

Landowners invited to join forest stewardship

Posted Apr. 3, 2011- Forest Stewardship workshops for landowners and forest managers are scheduled this summer in Kalispell, Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake, and Condon. The three-day workshops are offered through the Montana State University Extension Forestry Program, which has assisted more than 3,100 participants in developing plans to care for their forests, according to Cindy Bertek, forest stewardship coordinator in Missoula.
Workshops will be held in Kalispell on July 21, 22 and 29; Yellow Bay on Aug. 18, 19 and 26 and Condon on Sept. 15, 16 and 23.
Interested forest owners can request an application and obtain information by calling the MSU Extension Forestry office at 406-243-2773 or visiting http://www.forestry.umt.edu/extensionforestry.

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