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The first part of the road is from Highway U.S. 93 North to trust land and is about one-quarter of a 

 mile in length. It is located in the NE!(4SW14 of Section 33 on private land owned by Roger and 

 Ida Nielsen. This is a single lane road constructed of native material with a gravel surface. The 

 Skyles Lake Home Owners Association has a right-of-way easement from the Nielsens for ingress 

 and egress to access private residences. A sign has been placed at the junction with U.S. 93 

 indicating it is a private road and may be closed at any time. The Nielsens allow other private 

 landowners in the area to use the road for access to their undeveloped properties. They also allow 

 recreationists to use the road for access to the Beaver Lake area. DNRC is allowed use of the road 

 for administration. They have indicated that DNRC could obtain an easement for that use in the 

 future. However, we believe the Nielsons are not in favor of a county road through their property 

 to Beaver Lake because they have expressed opposition to increased access to the area. 



The junction of the petitioned road and U.S. 93 is at a location where the highway has both 

 horizontal and vertical curves in a 55 mile per hour speed zone. MDT requires a sight distance of 

 980 feet each way for a loaded logging truck to pull onto the highway. The required sight distance 

 does not exist in either direction. Recently Stan talked to Ross Gammon, Montana Department of 

 Transportation office in Kalispell. Mr Gammon stated that for county roads, a sight distance of 980 

 feet must be available each direction. Since the existing private road does not have the required 

 sight distance, it appears that designation as a county road would be contrary to VIDT policy 

 regarding access to a state highway. rr. :,.;<. *...n«j m-M ^^-,-«u^ | 



The second part of the road shown in the petition is located in the trust ow.nership in the SE'4NV."i 

 of Section 33. There are no records indicating that this was ever a public or county road in either 

 DNRC or county records. The Board has granted permarient easements to the various landowners 

 in the Skyles Lake area for this section of road. There is an existing cabin site lease in this trust 

 land tract which is accessed by the road through the Nielsons' property. 



The third part of the road in the petition begins at the east boundary of the trust ownership in the 

 SE'/iNWVi of Section 33. The road follows an easterly and northerly route through the SWUN'EW 

 of Section 33. This area consists of residential lots and acreages. DNRC has verbal permission 

 from the President of the Skyles Lake Home Owners Association to use this portion of private road 

 for administrative access to the eastern portion of the trust land in section 33. 



The road enters trust land via the southern boundary of the NWUNEU of Section 33. The road 

 proceeds northerly through this parcel for 0.3 mile. This road is now grassed in and seldom used. 

 The road has been in place since the 1920's according to DNRC records. Road grades vary from 

 about 6 to 18 percent. The northern portion of the road is located in a Class Three stream bed. If 

 this segment of road were to be improved, our direction is that it would have to be relocated with 

 new construction to meet Best Management Practices (BMPs).. 



The road then enters private ownerships for about 0.6 mile. Most of the road is located in a Class 

 Three stream bed. About half of the road has not been used for years and is grown-in with trees up 

 to five inches in diameter. 



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Stillwater State Forest • Beaver Lake Timber Sale Project 



