Mineral County RC&D

Meeting Minutes

May 5, 2003

The monthly meeting of the Mineral County RC&D convened at 10:00 a.m. on May 5, 2003 with Chairperson Kevin Chamberlain presiding.

MaryLee Bailey, president of the Bitterroot RAC was introduced.

Program

Rob Harper, Superior USFS Ranger gave a report on the workings of the RAC. He noted that attendance is on the downward trend. At the last meeting of the RAC the following projects were chosen:

• 3 Weed projects on Superior District Forest; spraying for St. Johns Wort, Tansy Ragwort, and Blacktail
• Development of trail head in Dry Creek
• Development of the Maynard Loge Nature Conservation Trail

The RAC will be meeting on May 6, 2003 and the committee will be discussing the The Forest Plan revision and will be looking at Title III money.

MaryLee Bailey shared the Bitterroot RAC project. They have two projects that are completed those being Coyote Coulee Project and a streamside management project. The RAC is currently looking at sponsoring a project.

Pat Hayes – MCCF

Pat presented the Outline for National Forest Based Community Collaboration Teams. The purpose of these teams will be to work with Forest Plan Revision Team. Attached is copy of this outline. Pat also reported that in about two weeks a mailing will be going to the public regarding these teams. The members of these teams will be people representing the environmental concerns, the timber industries, multiple use, and recreationists.

REPORTS

USFS – Rob Harper

• Judge Molloy ruled against the Post Burn EIS because of water quality.
• Working with DEQ and EPA to build TMDL’s into EIS.
• Idaho Pan Handle EIS has also been appealed because of TMDL
• Students from the Superior school has visited the Superior Ranger District, and seen the fire ecology demonstration
• There is a rock slide up the Little Joe
• Have met with Pete Vigue and will be organizing an ATV group. The FS wants to work with this group to set up criteria of using ATV’s on public lands.

RC&D – Kit Sutherland

• Outsourcing of employees has become a great concern in federal offices.
• Interested in establishing MT Birding Trail
• Still working on the fuels for school project
• If any group is interested in reserving the “Fire Ecology Mobile Unit” talk with Becky Linderman at RC&D in Ravalli County.

With no other business to come before this group the meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon. The next meeting will be June 2, 2003.