It is proving to be a good year for the land that we all love and cherish. On Sept. 16, the Coalition to Protect the Rocky Mountain Front unveiled a comprehensive proposal that will ensure the Front remains the pristine and majestic place that it has been for eons.
The Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act is the culmination of years of vigorous debate and consensus-building involving a large group of organizations and individuals. Represented in the discussion was the full spectrum of interested parties including hunters, fishermen, outfitters, ranchers, farmers, residents of towns and cities along the front, conservationists, environmentalists, business people, and many public, private and nonprofit organizations.
One the hallmarks of the act is its common-sense approach. The result is a carefully crafted proposal consisting of three major parts: first, a substantial commitment of resources and the development of a plan to combat noxious weeds that are inundating the Front and threatening its vitality; second, a conservation management plan to guide the usage of existing Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management holdings of some 307,000 acres bordering the Front; and third, the addition of approximately 86,000 to existing wilderness areas adjacent to the Front.
We believe this is an extraordinary opportunity to preserve a treasured place. Please attend one of the upcoming public meetings to learn more about the proposal and express your support for the Front. A meeting schedule and additional details are available at www.savethefront.org.
Peg Hunter and Patrick Johnson,
Helena
