An Assessment of Integrated Road and Culvert Management on the Flathead National Forest
--A 14-page report by Keith Hammer. December 2000.
Flathead Forest Plan Amendment 19 is an integral part of the Flathead's program for reclaiming roads for the benefit of water quality, fish, and wildlife habitat security. Since 1995, it has benefited water quality and fish by requiring that stream-bearing culverts be removed during road reclamation necessary to achieve grizzly bear habitat security objectives. Watershed improvement funds financed 70% of the Flathead's road reclamation from 1995-1999, 80% of which occurred in grizzly bear habitat. Wildlife funds financed less than 1% of the road reclamation, while volunteer services provided the equivalent of 3% and new national road reclamation initiatives financed 26%.
An analysis of the Flathead's road reclamation program reveals the Flathead has failed to seize opportunities to promote its road reclamation program and prioritize funding for it. As national Forest Service initiatives have provided increased emphasis and funding for road reclamation, the Flathead has instead worked at cross-purposes to rescind Amendment 19's road reclamation and culvert removal requirements. As a result of inadequate priorities, funding, planning and implementation, the Flathead has failed to meet Amendment 19's mandatory 5-year objectives for road reclamation. This report looks at why this has occurred and suggests ways in which the situation can be corrected.
