Forest Planning: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Plan

The Montana Wilderness Association focused a lot of energy for two and a half months on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Plan FEIS comment period that has now closed.

Beginning February 15, and ending April 30, 2008, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest accepted public comments on their final Forest Plan. The Forest Plan is the process where the agency recommends landscapes for wilderness and helps set the stage for future designations in Montana. This was an opportunity for our members across the state to express their enthusiastic support for new wilderness and quiet trails on the forest. And while it is too early to determine what kind of response our members generated, it is clear the agency heard from a lot of people!

According to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest website, the agency received “about 30,000 letters and e-mails (that is 20,000 more than the draft Forest Plan) and they are in the process of working on responses to those comments, a final Forest Plan and Record of Decision (ROD) which will implement the plan.” Based on copies of comments shared by our members, we were delighted by the number and strength of responses supporting new wilderness recommendations. Thanks to everyone that took the time to comment on the Forest Plan and we will be taking our own look at the comments for analysis as soon as they are available to the public.