Supports Tranel
In my years as a wilderness advocate, I’ve come to profoundly appreciate the values we derive from the public lands around us. There are, of course, the products and incomes provided by drilling, mining, logging, and grazing. But more important than such commercial uses are the benefits we all freely enjoy: the opportunity to hunt and fish, the protection of watersheds and stabilization of climate, and the preservation of an untrammeled natural world.
But we can’t assume public lands will always be here. The development pressures are intense, and we need leaders who will resist them. I’m supporting Monica Tranel for Congress because she’s such a leader. She’s a Montanan who knows that to preserve our way of life we must preserve public lands. She knows that they belong to all of us, and should not be sold. And she believes that public wellbeing should outweigh corporate interests.
As Interior Secretary, Monica’s opponent Ryan Zinke opened public lands to commercial exploitation by oil, gas and mining corporations. He still works for those interests, and those close ties mean that he will not be a guardian of public lands and interests. But Monica Tranel will be, and she deserves your support.
Dale Harris
Holland Lake Lodge Expansion
When I first came to the Holland Lake Lodge area back in 1975, it didn’t impress me much. Sure it was kinda pretty, but what drew me there were the mountains hiding behind the big ridge to the east in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. I was 18 and had just hired on as a guide and packer for the outfitter who leased the barn and corrals behind the lodge.
Yesterday, nearly five decades later, I came back for a look around. There was the old barn where Frank Jette and Smokey Mills would often be waiting with cold six-packs when we returned from the wild country, ready to trade for stories of mule wrecks and big bull elk. The corrals are long gone but I can still see those barefoot Nelson kids,
always weaseling around through the mules and horses, then licking on the salt block and drinking from the stock tank before heading back home to the lodge.
Through the trees I walked towards the lake. Arnica and Oregon Grape grew here and there under the old Douglas Firs. A nuthatch spiraled up the bark of one towards the gathering storm clouds above. Change was in the air.
This place has seen change before. For the native folks who knew this land, the existing lodge and develo p.m.ent were big changes. Surely this little elbow of land into the lake was a favorite camping place. Maybe stories were told around the campfire of adventures into those mountains to the east. Perhaps honor songs were sung in thanks to the plants, birds, water and other medicines here.
What a place once was and what it may become is on the mind of many Montanans these days. The fast changes we all see bring new questions asking for new answers.
Unbridled capitalism built America, but is it sustainable in its current form? How do we create a healthy economy that doesn’t take too much too fast, where quality of life isn’t measured by more money and more stuff, and where bigger does not always mean better? What is the true cost of mega develo p.m.ent and mega resorts to local communities? What is the true cost to our children and to the earth?
At the lakeshore I paused near the water and listened close to what this special place was saying. I didn’t know how to hear it back in 1975, but the message is clear now:
Keep It Simple.
Mike Stevenson
Don’t expand
Holland Lake
development
The Holland Lake Lodge in the Swan Valley was sold to an out of state corporation - POWDR - which has numerous ski areas around the country. They have announced big plans for expanding the facility with a new lodge, restaurant, 26 cabins, parking lots and more. Since the Lodge has a Special Use Permit from the Forest Service they must have approval for these changes and additions.
The Flathead National Forest has proposed using a categorical exclusion to exempt the project from environmental analysis. The categorical exclusion they intend to use is typically for small projects with no environmental impacts, but this proposal far exceeds the scope and limitations allowed.
The proposal does not mention the extraordinary circumstances that are related to the proposed expansion such as federally listed species, designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species.
The Holland Lake area is not only picturesque but also habitat for several threatened and proposed fish and wildlife species and their critical habitat as well as sensitive species. Holland Lake and Creek contains a disjunct population of bull trout and is designated bull trout critical habitat. Bull trout spawn in Holland Creek and move to Holland Lake to mature for several years before returning to the creek to spawn again.
These bull trout do not migrate through the Swan River to grow and rear in Swan Lake like most other bull trout in the Swan Valley do (Lindbergh Lake is the other disjunct population in the Swan). While it is a small population it is genetically distinct and fills a unique niche.
The Holland Lake area is designated critical habitat for Canada lynx. Wolverine are proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The area has deep snow in winter and other habitat attributes that lynx and wolverine require. Monitoring in the Swan Valley has detected both animals in this area.
The Holland Lake area is in the primary conservation area for grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. The Swan Valley is a critical linkage for genetic interchange between bears in the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, Mission Mountain Wilderness, Rattlesnake Wilderness and other roadless habitats.
The mere presence of four listed/proposed species is extraordinary and warrants evaluation in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to analyze the impacts.
The roadless lands on the Swan Front are recommended for wilderness designation in the Forest Plan and Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.
This proposal doesn’t just upgrade or replace existing structures but increases the human footprint on the site by three-fold which will impact the adjacent forest and lake.
This is in addition to the heavily used campground with 40 campsites, a day use area, boat ramp and group site. Expansion will put more pressure on the lake and trails as well as wildlife and fish which must be addressed as cumulative impacts to wildlife and the wilderness character in an EIS.
An expanded season of use into the winter is also proposed. While not explicitly stated it is entirely possible that more winter develo p.m.ent is forthcoming, especially since POWDR Corporation owns large ski areas throughout the country as well as a helicopter skiing company. Why would an adventure lifestyle company want to own and manage a small area on Holland Lake without having larger plans?
These are public lands that belong to everyone in the US. The wildlife, scenery, clean water and wilderness are ours. We must preserve the wild character of this amazing place -- expanded develo p.m.ent will not do that.
Arlene Montgomery
Friends of the Wild Swan
Swan Lake, MT
I’m voting for Gary Stein
I am So Pleased to have Gary Stein as our candidate for House District 92. I’ve known Gary for many years and agree with his independent attitude about what’s important for our District. I would be proud to have him represent me and our community in the Montana State Legislature.
Good public education available to all our citizens is crucial in order for folks to make educated decisions on every matter important to our Great State and our local communities. That’s why, as a Public Servant and Public School teacher for decades, Gary personally cares about Public Education and will cultivate relationships for common goals in funding our public schools and education in our communities, rather than privatize schools for partisanship purposes. Gary knows how to “think outside the box” and will offer creative solutions to partisan divides in all areas.
We’re all here for the great outdoors that is the primary use of the lands in our District. Gary seeks to protect that great outdoors we all care about and specifically, the water…our “Blue Gold”. He has the foresight to protect and maintain our water sources, both for humans and the wildlife we share it with. This forward thinking is what I trust to “have my back” on issues important to me. I know Gary will do a responsible job of putting forth creative ideas in bringing both sides together on an issue, while being focused on both the short term and long term impacts and effects.
As a public school teacher, Gary has learned to build resources, knowing that he doesn’t have to know or have all the answers, he just needs to know where to find them. He has the ability find good ideas and creative solutions based on his knowledge of accessing resources, as he’s done in all his years of teaching others.
Gary is an independent thinker and focuses on what unites us, rather than divides us. He’ll listen to and consider the concerns of all of us, whether he gets your vote or not. To him, your voice matters and he’s open-minded to new ideas and viewpoints. That’s why he’s who I want to have represent me. I know he’s just a phone call or email away on a concern or idea I might have.
Gary Stein? You have my Vote. We need you as our representative in our HD 92.
Lee Bridges
East Missoula
Strange Political Positions
It is my understanding that candidates for a judgeship are not only supposed to run as non-partisan, but should actually be non-partisan to provide a fair and equitable venue for those coming before them.
However, James Brown’s ads state that he will “stand up to Biden and his liberal judges” (whom he will never confront). I could be wrong, but that sounds like he is running as a conservative Republican. If Brown cannot even appear to be fair and unbiased in his campaign, how could a voter possibly expect him to be fair and impartial if he gets on the bench?
Then, there are the Zinke ads which imply that defense lawyers, who don’t necessarily want violent criminals roaming our streets, but whose job it is to ensure their clients get a fair trial, should refuse to represent anyone accused of a crime to avoid being labeled as a supporter of the crime.
Both of these ads fail to advocate for their candidate, but instead falsely present themselves or their opponents as something they are not.
Please join me in voting for Ingrid Gustafson and Monica Tranel, both of whom campaign on who they are and their relevant experience.
C. Burt Caldwell
Missoula
Thanks for
saving Lucky
Thank you for printing the story about Lucky the dog.
A big thank you to Shawn Wendel who is a hero to Lucky. Also, big thanks to Trista his daughter and Sharon his wife who took the dog in fed it and bathed it, This poor dog had suffered for three days tied up and left. Hopefully, the people who did this are caught and are jailed.
So now, Lucky is lucky again. With another hero named Troy Spence who is well known about lovings dogs. Never has less than five and in talking to Troy, Lucky will always be his, which is great.
Please people, love and care for your pets.
Thank you,
Elinor Williamson
To Kurt Steele re: Holland Lake Lodge
I grew up in the Swan Valley just over the hill from Holland Lake Lodge. My Great Aunt Ada White and her husband built the original lodge in 1925. I still own property in the Swan. I oppose the application from POWDR for an expansion of the USFS special use permit for the Holland Lake Lodge.
We love this lake. It’s beauty and solitude feed our souls. Recreating on public lands in Montana, especially in the Swan Valley, is more in tune with nature and less about amenities. We don’t need or want POWDR’s exclusive resort to enjoy our public lands. It will not only destroy the beauty and threaten the environment, but it will exclude those of us who have come here for a lifetime.
The comments submitted have been from our hearts and our souls. But you are charged with making a decision based on a fair process, reviewing the facts, listening to public comment and following the established rule of laws. The federal regulations for special use permits provides clear guidelines and authority. The mission and goals of the USFS and the FS land use plan for the Swan identify the values to be protected.
Comments on the Holland Lake Lodge permit written by Marty Almquist, an experienced amnistrator of Special Use Permits, points out FS is not obligated to renew special use permits and may require improvements be removed when a permit expires. Ms. Almquist identified several flaws in the application. The purpose of the permit is to ‘benefit the general public and protect public and natural resource values’. 36CFR§251.54 gives you the authority to reject this proposal. Protecting the watershed, fish, wildlife and their habitat gives you the reason, right and responsibility.
It is not your job to bail Mr. Wohlfeil out of his own poor business practices and lack of investment into the facilities.
It is not your job to provide POWDR an easy path to ruin this valley. If POWDR plans to invest millions of dollars on FS land- our land- they must have a business plan to make this investment pencil out. You have the authority to see that business plan. What else is in the works? A potential monopoly of FS campground concessionaire contracts in the valley? A special use permit for helicopter skiing or extreme skiing? This lodge is just a toe in the door for POWDR.
It is your job to follow the rules and protect public land and resources while ensuring access to the general public. You have the tools and the authority to deny this application. It may be a nice plan but its wrong for this place. This valley does not have the infrastructure to handle this exclusive resort even if POWDR can mitigate their impact on the land, water and wildlife.
Future generations are counting on you to make the right decision. Deny the special use permit for Holland lake lodge.
Jean Curtiss
Missoula
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