tied to the Natural Resources Information System and the 

 Geographical Information System administered by the Montana 

 State Library. It is essential that valid scientific data 

 pertaining to the Clark Fork Basin are entered in the overall 

 Clark Fork data file, and strong support should be given to 

 funding this comprehensive data management system. 



Public Involvement 



The purpose of the Clark Fork Basin Project has been to 

 summarize existing information and encourage coordination of 

 agency activities. The project has been aided in this 

 process by the strong public interest expressed throughout 

 the basin. 



Implementing the action plan and making progress on 

 Clark Fork issues will require an informed and interested 

 public. All phases of the planning process should be open to 

 public participation. Government agencies should make 

 information available to the public and should seek public 

 involvement in decision-making. 



Public interest groups, such as the Clark Fork Coali- 

 tion, which represents more than 70 organizations and 

 several hundred individuals throughout the Clark Fork Basin, 

 and the Northern Lights Institute, are particularly impor- 

 tant. Their efforts to inform the public on important 

 issues and to work with all levels of government and industry 

 on permitting issues have aided in conflict resolution. The 

 Northern Lights Institute and the Clark Fork Coalition 

 propose to use a community-building approach to environ- 

 mental problem solving by creating a "standing forum" of 

 citizens who are committed to improving conditions on the 

 river. 



Public interest groups are encouraged to participate in 

 the implementation and formulation of the Clark Fork action 

 plan. 



Funding 



One of the most difficult and essential components of 

 the plan is funding. While existing state and federally 

 funded programs can meet many requirements, most new programs 

 will require special funding. 



The Clark Fork Project was initially funded through a 

 direct grant from the Anaconda Minerals Company and later 

 with monies from the Resource Indemnity Trust Fund. Some 



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