Memorandum of Understanding 



This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is made and entered into by and 

 among the Flathead Basin Commissionr hereinafter referred to as 

 FBC; Montana Department of State Lands r hereinafter referred to 

 as DSL; Plum Creek Timber Companyf Inc./ hereinafter referred to 

 as PCTCI; Flathead National Forest/ hereinafter referred to as 

 FNF; Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences/ 

 hereinafter referred to as DHES; Montana Department of Fish/ 

 Wildlife & Parks/ hereinafter referred to as FWP; and the 

 University of Montana/ hereinafter referred to UM. 



In the Flathead Basin/ one third of the watershed is composed of 

 forested lands which are managed for commercial forest production 

 by FNF/ DSL/ PCTCI/ and other entities. Valuable commodities are 

 produced that substantially contribute to the regional economic 

 base. 



Flathead Lake and its tributary streams and rivers host water 

 quality and a fishery of superlative quality which offers a 

 valuable economic and recreational resource. 



The effects of certain forestry activities (e.g./ logging and 

 associated road construction) may be a potential risk to the 

 aquatic environment. At this time/ the cause-and-effect rela- 

 tionship of specific forest practices on water quality and fish- 

 eries is not known. 



WHEREAS/ FBC is a legislatively created body to address the 

 Flathead Basin's aquatic environment/ the waters that flow into 

 or out of Flathead Lake/ and other resources of the Basin; and 



WHEREAS/ DSL and FNF are government agencies that manage 

 commercial forest lands within the Flathead Basin; and 



WHEREAS/ PCTCI is a private enterprise which owns and manages 

 commercial timberlands; and 



WHEREAS/ DHES is charged with enforcing the laws governing water 

 quality in the state of Montana; and 



WHEREAS/ FWP is charged with managing the fisheries resource of 

 Montana; and 



WHEREAS/ UM is an institution of higher education providing 

 teaching/ research/ and service for the benefit of Montana 

 citizens and resources/ 



THEREFORE/ in consideration of the above/ the parties agree to 

 create and participate in the FLATHEAD BASIN FOREST PRACTICES/ 



Flathead Basin Cooperative Program Final Report Page 181 



