A decade ago, no one would have predicted that a taxidermist, a rancher, a small-town attorney, a farmer, a teacher, an outfitter and many others would be working together to protect the Rocky Mountain Front.
It has been a lot of work but we've managed to put together a wholly made-in-Montana solution - a vision that looks after one of the most premier landscapes and the people that work and play here. After three years we've built a proposal that we believe Montanans can support.
This plan doesn't originate from the east or west coast, but from working people on the Front who have partnered with conservation organizations including Friends of the Rocky Mountain Front, Montana Wilderness Association, Montana Wildlife Federation, Sustainable Obtainable Solutions, and The Wilderness Society.
Our coalition recently finished holding four public meetings where we presented a draft proposal that we believe stands a good chance of getting the job done.
The goal of the public meetings was to solicit feedback from Montanans and improve our working draft. The meetings were held in Great Falls, Helena, Choteau and Augusta.
There were large crowds at every meeting and in total more than 400 people attended, including local county commissioners and representatives for Sens. Baucus and Tester, and Congressman Rehberg.
While holding these public meetings several things became clear to us:
This is an important issue for many Montanans. We received feedback from a wide cross-section of people, including ranchers, hunters, outfitters, environmentalists, recreationists, motorized users and mountain bikers. Many folks stayed after the meetings to ask more detailed questions.
Most Montanans believe that something needs to be done. Thankfully, the Front's rich ranching and wildlife heritage hasn't changed much in the last 150 years, but no one can predict what the next 150 years will bring.
One thing is certain, change is inevitable and the coalition feels that the wise thing to do is to prepare.
For example, dramatic forage reduction from expanding noxious weeds is good for neither wildlife nor ranchers.
The Heritage proposal is like an insurance policy that provides reasonable side-boards and clear direction to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to keep unwanted change - increased trespass and resource damage from off road vehicles and the spread of noxious weeds - from occurring.
Although we will do our best to respond to the many opinions we heard at these meetings, it is clear we won't be able to satisfy everybody's needs.
This solution is built on a foundation of compromise and democracy. That means we are trying to find a middle ground that ensures the Front remains much as it is today for future generations to use and enjoy.
It's tough work trying to find a middle ground. However, working together is ultimately valuable, makes our proposal stronger, and is testament to our democratic process and our freedoms as Americans.
Now that the meetings are over we've compiled the feedback and will begin addressing the concerns and suggestions we received.
In the next couple of weeks we'll send everyone who signed up at a meeting either a letter or an e-mail letting them know our progress.
We sincerely thank everyone who attended these meetings and contributed their insights.
As this proposal unfolds we urge Montanans to stay involved. This is an opportunity for all of us to take part in a truly Montana-made solution.
We will be posting frequent updates of our work and the most current versions of our proposal at our coalition website, www.savethefront.org.
If you didn't attend a public meeting you will always have a chance to learn more about this proposal and to give us your feedback on our Web site or call Holly Baker in Choteau at 466-2600.
