The road re-enters trust land at the divide between Skyles Lake and Beaver Lake in the S'ANWVi of 

 Section 28. The road runs northwesterly through the eighty acre parcel. This parcel is part of the 

 320 acres in Section 28 and 29 received from Plum Creek Timber Company (PCTC) in a land 

 exchange in December 1987. 



The road passes through trust land for about 0.6 mile, with about half of that length being located in 

 the land received from PCTC. The company has checked their records for this ownership and did 

 not find any record of a cited public or county road in this eighty acre parcel. The remaining 0.3 

 mile of road is located in the original grant to the State. Again no record of public or county road 

 in this portion of the ownership. 



The 0.6 miles of road is located beside a Class Three stream or on a side slope, until the junction 

 with the South Beaver Lake Road. At this road junction, the road becomes very steep approaching 

 a 40 percent grade. The entire 0.6 mile of road is grown-in vegetation and trees up to 5-6 inches in 

 diameter and it is difficult to discern the location of the road on the ground as little soil was 

 displaced in the original construction. Portions of this road would have to be relocated and 

 reconstructed to meet BMPs. The location of the 0.6 mile of road does not fit the preliminary 

 transportation plan done during the summer of 1995 by DNRC. Several new roads will be needed 

 across ridges and draws to access DNRC and private holdings in this area. 



Conclusion 



While increased access to the trust lands in this area is generally desirable, there are several factors 

 which lead me to the recommendation that D.NRC should not join this petition. - - 



First, it is highly unlikely that MDT will allow trucks to legally enter US 93 at this location 

 which would limit the value of the road to DNRC, since we need a road that will accommodate 

 legal transport of logs from trust lands in the area. Also, we should not join a petition calling, 

 for a road that will not meet basic safety standards. •:'»! 



Second, it will not be possible to reconstruct the road on trust land to meet BMP's on the 

 current "road" location. The petitioned road does not conform very well to our conceptual 

 transportation plan for the area. 



Third, there is no reason to believe that the county will agree to fund construction of this road. 

 We should not join the petition unless we have indications from the county that the petition is 



welcome. 



/' 



Finally, the Nielsons hold a key position to access in this area. We should not take a position 

 that could jeopardize our current working relationship with them and our ability to get 

 permanent right of way from them in the future for our lessee and administrative use. 



cc: Tom Vars, Stillwater Unit 

 BUI Wright, Kalispell Unit 

 Stan Billheimer, NWXO (file) 

 Dan Vincent, FWT KalispeO 



Appendix B 



B-3 



