Response of Major Forest Land Managers 

 TO THE "Summary of Recommendations" 



By Joel Holtrop,^ WJ. Parson,^ and Gary G. Brown^ 



The Flathead National Forest, Montana 

 Department of State Lands, and Plum Creek 

 Timber Company, L.P., are three of the major 

 forest land managers in the Flathead Basin and 

 were the original sponsors of this study. We 

 recognize the importance of maintaining water 

 quality and fisheries and will continue to give 

 these valuable resources the attention they de- 

 serve. It is important to recognize that we as 

 professional land managers are charged with 

 the responsibility of managing other resources 

 in addition to water and fisheries — for ex- 

 ample, wildlife, timber, recreation, grazing, air 

 quality, minerals, oil and gas, aesthetics, etc. 

 Our challenge is to ensure a balanced manage- 

 ment approach for all resources. We agree in 

 concept with the "Summary of Recommenda- 

 tions" and oflFer the following comments on 

 them. 



Forest Practice Recommendations 



The managers recognize that the implemen- 

 tation of effective Best Management Practices 

 (BMPs) is required to ensure that the effects of 

 forest practices are minimized. We are all in- 

 volved in a continuing effort to educate our land 

 managers and all landowners and logging con- 

 tractors on the benefits associated with the 

 effective use of BMPs. 



The Flathead National Forest uses riparian 

 habitat types to design projects associated with 

 riparian areas. The other land managers agree in 



concept to the use of this classification in future 

 project design. The passage of Montana House 

 Bill 731 will provide mandatory regulations 

 governing the conduct of forest practices within 

 streamside management zones. 



Monitoring Forest Practices Rec- 

 ommendations 



Internal BMP audits are being conducted on 

 all lands by the respective land managers. We 

 recognize the value of continuing the coopera- 

 tive interdisciplinary BMP audit program. We 

 agree with the need to develop prescriptions for 

 woody debris recruitment to provide for fish 

 habitat and channel stability. House Bill 731 

 authorizes the Montana Department of State 

 Lands to establish an interdisciplinary technical 

 committee to assist in the development of rules 

 and guidelines to protect the integrity of stream- 

 side management zones. The managers intend 

 to have representatives on the technical com- 

 mittee and assist in the development of appro- 

 priate rules and guidelines. 



'Joel Holtrop is Supervisor of the Flathead 

 National Forest in Kalispell, Montana. 



^.J. Parson is Director of Operations, Rocky 

 Mountain Region of Plum Creek Timber Company, 

 L.P., in Columbia Falls, Montana. 



Hjary G. Brown is State Forester of the Mon- 

 tana Department of State Lands Forestry Division 

 in Missoula, Montana. 



Flathead Basin Cooperative Program Final Report 



Page 165 



