Today's Hometown with updates from FWP on Recreation Impacts in Montana

Hometown Helena -- Thursday,  July 22, 2021 -- 7 a.m. Live via ZOOM -- Impacts of Recreation in Montana:

We’ve all seen a significant influx of people recreating at our favorites sites across the state this summer. Learn about the increased use and visitation at FWP sites, the impact they are having on resources, and how FWP is working collaboratively on education and awareness with stakeholders across Montana to make growing interest in outdoor recreation sustainable. 

• Greg Lemon, Communication and Education Division Administrator, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
  
  
• Pat Doyle, Marketing Coordinator, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

View today's ZOOM meeting hosted by Anderson ZurMuehlen Technology Services:

https://azworld.zoom.us/rec/share/Dj9BVywkCTHdZphi7rUNroqtlGwY--Uxze8S2tWg32sht6kOdTcn-VEZLTe3pIde.mXjoYleG8mp-JXO_    Passcode: !mv*w9AT

This week's message from our host:

Greetings Everyone,

I’m hoping Kathy Bushnell, Helena-Lewis & Clark Forest Supervisor, will be able to join us this week for a fire update.  But, for all I know Kathy is out on a fire line somewhere.  I’m sure she has her hands full.  So this is what I’d ask each of our Hometown people: ask around the next few days & talk to folks you know about the fire situation In an area that you care about.  As we begin our Hometown this week, we’ll ask for fire news from anyone with any news to share.

For example, I’m particularly interested in the Trail Creek fire west of Wisdom.  Last summer a buddy and I drove up Trail Creek, over Gibbons Pass and down to the Sula Ranger Station.  That was the ancient, original way over the continental divide in that part of the country.  The Salish people used this route to go from their home in the Bitterroot valley to the Snake River country to fish for salmon every fall.  William Clark used this pass on his return journey from the Pacific coast.  Jedediah Smith took Trail Creek in 1824 when he went all the way to the Hudson Bay Company’s Flathead House, near Thompson Falls.  The Flight of the Nez Perce, with around 800 men, women and children, took them over Gibbons Pass and down Trail Creek in 1877.  It’s a beautiful little valley.  I’ll post a few photos to give you the idea.  I hope these historic markers haven’t been burned up. The Trail Creek fire is but one of many burning in the west this summer.  Let’s open our discussion Thursday with a fire update from whoever is with us on the zoom.

Meanwhile, we have another excellent program lined up for this week (see below).  It will be good to hear from Greg Lemon and Pat Doyle about what we’re calling the ‘recreational impact’ on Montana this summer.  

Please zoom in this  Thursday morning for another great Hometown Helena.  Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Jim Smith 

This week's chat:

Anderson ZurMuehlen Technology Services, a division of Anderson ZurMuehlen is

pleased to host today’s HomeTown Helena.

Emily McVey: United Way's 80th Birthday Party - August 18 4-8pm Copper Furrow

Katie Gallagher: Kgallagher(at)sphealth.org. Also— an important piece that I did not mention: across the country and locally the vast majority of hospitalizations are among people who are not fully vaccinated.

Emily McVey: Katie, is the new varient affecting younger people in MT?

Matt Elsaesser, 406 Recycling/406 Compost: 406 Recycling's Event Recycling Program is

back in full force with events. We had great participation and quality control at Symphony Under

the Stars last weekend and at the first three Revive @ 5 events Downtown! This weekend there

will be more than two dozen volunteers bringing recycling to Red Ants Pants in White Sulfur

Springs and other events around the state including the rodeo (PBR) in Big Sky starting today.

(Anyone wanting to volunteer for events can always text 406 Recycling at 406.449.6008 or

email Contact(at)406Recycling.com)

Rachel Harlow-Schalk: Great news that you didn’t need to pull from Chessman! Thank

you Kathy and your team!

Andy Shirtliff: Thank you for the update, Kathy and the great work by your team!

Alana Listoe: are there a shortage in firefighters just like all the other workforces?

Chris Hawkins: Who manages the deadfall clearing from the NF TRAILS LOCALLY

Bruce Whittenberg: Thank you for the update. Good to see you. Be safe.

John Murdy: Kathy;

Kathy Bushnell-FS: Alana: There's not a shortage in firefighters; however, there's a shortage

in availability for new fires because so many are already assigned to fires. But overall we were

able to hire as many firefighters as we have in the past. Thanks!

Kathy Bushnell-FS: Chris: We manage the trails on the Helena Ranger District; we have a

recreation/trails staff, and we work with Montana Conservation Corps to help with trail

management.

Kathy Bushnell-FS: Thank you! I'll be sure to share all everyone's thanks and appreciation to the fire crews---that means a lot to them. Thanks!

Bob: I believe the Forest Service also relies on private non-profits to maintain trails including

the Montana Wilderness Association, Back Country Horsemen of Montana, Capital Trail Vehicle

Association, Prickly Pear Land Trust, and many others.

John Murdy: Is there ever any talk of moving back to a 21 day rotation. A 14 day rotation is

insulting to a type one crew, and limiting to a type two crew that rotates just as they are getting

good at working together. Also, is there any work on pay parity for different resources on an

incident. Thank you.

Kathy Bushnell-FS: Oh absolutely a LOT of partners help with clearing trails. Thanks Bob --

you are exactly right!

Kathy Bushnell-FS: We couldn't do it without our partners!

John & Ann: I can’t hear the audio - but don’t know if it is just a challenge for us?

Ali Mandell: Beautifully produced pieces. Please share the video files and/or links with us and

we'll be happy to share with our email subscribers. Thanks, Pat!

Alana Listoe: Do you keep track of the percentage of visitors outside of the US?

Alana Listoe: from outside of the US, that is

Katie Gallagher: As I sit here thinking about things I forgot to say in my COVID update, I

forgot one of the most important ones: THANK YOU to everyone who has been vaccinated!!

Ali Mandell: Thank you Greg and Pat. Appreciate the update from FWP!

Jacque Tescher: If you have kiddos or grandkids and looking for free entertainment this

August, last day to register them for Family Fun Fest On the Move BINGO is July 28! Learn

more here: https://www.sphealth.org/family-fun-fest-2021-play-now

Ali Mandell: Anderson ZurMuehlen Technology Services, a division of Anderson ZurMuehlen,

is proud to sponsor this Zoom meeting for today's Hometown Helena. I also have some news to

share, for the second year in a row, AZTS was recently named a 2021 Best Firm for Technology

by Accounting Today. One of ten firms named nationally. https://azworld.com/2021-best-firm-

technology/ Additionally, AZ, your Helena based Montana Accounting and Business Advisory

firm, received recognition as a top 200 firm nationally. We landed at the 155 spot.

Kathy Bushnell-FS: Great presentation Greg and Pat. Thank you! If fire season continues into

the early fall like it has done in years past, I'm sure we'll be talking to you re: what closures we may have in-place for fires, that could impact hunting season/access...…..but then again, maybe we'll be over the bulk of the season

Bob: For the number of state parks and the low number of state parks staff, we have one of

the best state parks programs in the United States! More staff is needed!

Rick Hays: Congrats, Aja, Ali and AZTS! Thanks for your continuing help with HTH!

Kathy Bushnell-FS: Helena is extremely fortunate in how well all of the agencies, volunteer

fire departments, and law enforcement work so well together!