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HomeMy Public PortalAboutPayette National Forest IV: 2011 - presentThe Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Payette Forest Coalition seeks new members The Payette Forest Coalition seeks new members as it reviews forest restoration on the New Meadows Ranger District. The Coalition will meet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Thursday, Jan. 26, at Ernie's 45th Parallel Restaurant at the MeadowCreek Golf Resort north of New Meadows. The meeting is open to the public. The Payette Forest Coalition forted in June 2009 to make recommendations to the Payette National Forest on potential restoration projects. The coalition is made up of about 30 representatives of various interests, including county commissioners, recreationists, environmental organizations, livestock grazers, local logging companies, Idaho Department of Fish and Game and other state agencies. The group's goals include improving wildlife habitat, restoring forest health and resiliency, reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and contributing to the local economy by providing jobs in the woods and using slash for fuel. Over the course of two years, the group drafted recommendations for the 50,000-acre Mill Creek - Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project on the Council Ranger District. As the Forest Service completes the decision -making process on that proposal, the coalition is ready to begin work on its next set of recommendations, a news release said. The agenda for the Jan. 26 meeting will include follow-up discussion on the Mill Creek -Council Mountain project, as well as laying the groundwork for a new project in the Boulder Creek and Lost Creek watersheds. Background information on the coalition is available at www.spatialinterest.info/PayetteForward. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 1 /19/2012 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Forests get application for guided rock climbing The Cascade Ranger District and McCall Ranger District have received a proposal to conduct outfitted and guided basic and advanced rock climbing activities, along with instruction, on the Payette and Boise National Forests. The forests are seeking to determine if competitive interest exists prior to moving forward with an approval process. The proposal received was for the Pins and Needles area east of Donnelly and at Slick Rock east of McCall. Ovemight camping was proposed near the Pins and Needles area, but not Slick Rock. Forest Service regulations require a "determination of competitive interests" in the area. Interested individuals or companies should send a written proposal to Mark Bingman at the Cascade Ranger District, P.O. Box 696, Cascade, ID 83611. If competitive interest exists, a prospectus may be issued providing detailed information. The deadline for response is Feb. 24. For further information, call Bingman at 382-7422. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 1 /26/2012 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Payette forest seeks grants for road signs, trail rangers The Payette National Forest is seeking three grants from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to improve motorized recreation. The first grant would buy and install about 80 road signs at main intersections and would be done later this year. This grant also would buy and install 35 signs across the New Meadows and McCall ranger districts. The other two grants would fund trail rangers for ATV and snowmobile trails. The trail rangers would focus on sign installation, clearing trail, and educating users on which trails and areas are open and closed. Two rangers would be paired up for each season and would stock map boxes at all major summer and winter trailheads, and help organize parking in the snowmobile parking lots. The trail rangers would work this year through 2014. To comment or for information, contact Jane Cropp, Payette recreation program manager, at 634- 0757. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 1 /26/2012 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 $2.45 million grant will create jobs on Payette forest 800, 000 acres in Adams County to get various treatments A $2.45 million grant has been awarded to the Payette National Forest to create jobs on the forests of Adams County. The funds will sponsor projects on 800,000 acres of land in an area called the Weiser -Little Salmon Headwaters. The project area spans the Council and New Meadows ranger districts and will include watershed improvements and other projects to restore fish and wildlife habitat, a news release said. There was no estimate given on the number of jobs expected to be created. The Payette project was one of 10 grants approved by the Forest Service out of 26 applications for Collaborative Forest Restoration Grants. "We were awarded this funding in large part due to the success and long-term commitment of the Payette Forest Coalition that has been meeting and working out solutions to difficult issues for the last three years," Payette Supervisor Keith Lannom said. The Payette Forest Coalition is a collaborative group of about 37 organizations and individuals that began meeting in 2009 to develop a set of recommendations for the Mill Creek/Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project on the Council Ranger District. "We'll see these long-term investments pay off for wildlife, watersheds and people who use the forest for both work and for recreation, said John McCarthy, Idaho Forest Campaign Director for The Wilderness Society and a coalition member. "Securing special funding for our collaborative forest restoration projects means the good community agreements from the Payette Forest Coalition will get completed on the ground," McCarthy said. A "significant amount" of the $2.45 million grant will pay for contracts to private companies for timber removal, road projects, and habitat improvements, Lannom said. One goal is for slash and small trees resulting from the projects to be made into chips to fuel energy plants, he said. The grant is part of a federal govemment program encouraged by a new report called "Increasing the Pace of Restoration and Job Creation on our National Forests." A total of $40 million for 20 forest and watershed restoration projects were funded for the coming year. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 2/9/2012 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Payette forest halts separation of wild, domestic sheep Move implements requirement of act of Congress The Payette National Forest on Monday stopped its program to separate bighom and domestic sheep to stop disease transmission. The announcement implements an act of Congress supported by Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, to halt the program. The provision was contained in a $915 billion appropriations bill signed into law by President Barack Obama in December. In 2010, the Payette announced a three-year phase -in to remove domestic sheep from areas of the forest where they might come into contact with bighorn sheep. Diseases transmitted from domestic to bighorn sheep threaten the wild sheep population. The phase -in started last year, but the new law halts phases planned for this year and 2013. The new law only affects one ranch, the Soulen Livestock Company, which would have had to give up grazing in bighorn habitat. Craig Gehrke, regional director of the Wilderness Society in Boise, criticized the move. "The U.S. Congress passed an appropriation provision to protect a single, million -dollar livestock operation and politically -connected family in Idaho," said Craig Gehrke, regional director of the Wilderness Society in Boise. Simpson said the provision was needed because researchers were close to developing a vaccine to immunize bighoms from diseases. However, leading researchers at Washington State University said that an effective vaccine was as much as 15 years away. Ways to administer the vaccine each year to bighorns, which live in Hells Canyon, also has not been worked out. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 3/8/2012 The Star News Groups Page Page 1 of 1 Owners of private wells urged to test water Owners of private wells are being urged to have them tested during National Ground Water Awareness Week this week. The Southwest District Health, which includes Adams County, reminds private well owners the importance of testing their private well water annually to better ensure safe drinking water. "Water from private wells is not monitored, tested, or regulated by any public entity,' said David Loper, the district's director of environmental health services. "So ultimately, the responsibility to protect your family from potentially dangerous contaminants rests with the private well owner," Loper said. The district recommends all private well owners test their water for coliform bacteria each year or if work has been done on the water system. Most coliform bacteria is harmless to people, but some like E. coli can be dangerous. If coliforms are present, then there may also be other more dangerous contaminants present. Adams County has had few water quality problems, but water coming from geothermal wells or springs frequently show high levels of fluoride, Loper said. While fluoride at lower levels protects teeth from cavities, ingesting too much fluoride can damage children's emerging permanent teeth and can eventually lead to a painful bone condition in adults. "The only way to know if your well water contains contaminants is to have it tested," said Loper. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/groups_page.php 3/15/2012 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Carey Dome volunteers receive Forest Service award Volunteers who resort the Carey Dome Lookout cabin and storage shed have been given the Forest Service's Intermountain Region 4 -Volunteer Group of the Year award. McCall District Ranger Lisa Klinger of the Payette National Forest presented the award last week to a local group of retired smokejumpers, past Carey Dome lookouts and friends. The volunteers worked on the project during two summers to complete restoration of the Carey Dome cabin. The restoration work included a new floor, ceiling and roof, log chinking, and construction of a small log outbuilding used to provide solar power to the cabin. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located in the Burgdorf area of the McCall Ranger District. wr...w.r nr.a ar..r r.s Posingw Ith their Intermountain Region. -Sohuteer Group of the Year :ward are. top mu - from left. Earl Dodds. Rick Hudson. Erse Bnmdsge, Dan Pierson, Lame Swan and Jim Rush Bottom um%, from left, are Linda Corder. McCall Distract Ranger Lisa Ringer and Ahkkr LeClair Carey Dome is a staffed lookout during the summer and has been in use since the mid-1920s cabin was constructed in 19. The http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 3/29/2012 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Payette approves massive project in Council Mountain area 25,000 acres to see timber harvesting, road removal, new trails A massive series of projects covering 25,000 acres in the Council Mountain area of Adams County has been approved by the Payette National Forest. The Mill Creek -Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project will take five to seven years to complete and is expect to create around 35 jobs, according to estimates. Projects will include commercial timber harvest, controlled burns, road removal and realignment, culvert replacement and road re -surfacing. Recreation work is also planned, including trailhead improvements, trail construction and three new vault toilets. The project will restore ponderosa pine stands to historic conditions and improve habitat for white - headed woodpecker, elk, and northern Idaho ground squirrels. It will also contribute to the economic vitality of nearby communities, reduce wildfire hazards, and improve recreational opportunities in the area, a Payette news release said. Work should begin this summer with the award of a contract for about eight million board -feet of timber and about $600,000 worth of road improvements. The project is the results of three years of study and collaboration among the Forest Service, Native American tribes, local govemments and a broad -based citizens advisory committee called the Payette Forest Coalition In October, the Payette released its proposal for which methods to use in the project area. After hearing comments from the coalition and the public, the plan was revised to include: • An additional 10 miles of road closures during hunting season to protect elk. • The addition of 466 acres of helicopter logging to reduce wildfire risks near homes and ranches. • Six miles of unauthorized road previously recommended for full obliteration will instead be ripped and seeded. The project will be funded by a Collaborative Forest Restoration Grant of $2.4 million that the Payette received earlier this year. The Mill Creek -Council Mountain project is the first project in the Forests Weiser -Little Salmon Headwaters Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program. "This program is part of the federal initiative to accelerate the pace of forest restoration and job creation on our National Forests and grasslands, Payette Forest Supervisor Keith Lannom said. "The Payette is one of the frst forests to have a project of this scale and complexity ready for implementation," Lannom said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 4/12/2012 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Groups sue Payette seeking continuation of sheep separation Lawsuit would reverse action by Congress halting gra: ing bans Three conservation groups this week filed a lawsuit in federal court to force the Payette National Forest to continue separating bighorn sheep from disease -carrying domestic sheep on the forest. The lawsuit was filed by The Wildemess Society, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, and Westem Watersheds after the Payette hafted it separation program last month. The action was in response to provisions inserted by Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, into a federal appropriation to stop the separation effort after its first year. "The Forest Service essentially caved in to political pressure last month and announced it would not go forward with its own analysis and management plan to restore bighorns, said Craig Gehrke, Idaho regional director of The Wildemess Society. Over the past decade bighom sheep populations in the western U.S. have plummeted, in large part due to diseases contracted from domestic sheep grazing on public lands. Domestic sheep carry diseases to which bighoms have no immunity. "The effort to separate domestic sheep from bighorns on the Payette came only after years of analysis by the Forest Service, tens of thousands of public comments, and bringing to bear the most up-to-date peer -reviewed, published scientific literature documenting disease conflicts between bighorns and domestics," Gehrke said. Simpson said his provision was needed because researchers were close to developing a vaccine to immunize bighoms from diseases. But researchers at Washington State University have said an effective vaccine was as much as 15 years away. Plus, critics said it would be impractical for managers to catch and administer a vaccine every year to bighorns_ "Simpson then tried to claim that bighorns might be catching diseases from native elk and deer — species bighorns have evolved side -by -side with for tens of thousands of years," Gehrke said. "There is no peer -reviewed research tying elk and deer to bighorn die -offs." http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 4/ 12/2012 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Payette forest plans controlled burn near Little Ski Hill The McCall Ranger District of the Payette National Forest plans to conduct a controlled bum near the Little Ski Hill just west of McCall before mid -June. This planned bum is part of the Meadows Slope Project that was completed in 2005. The thinning portion of the project has been in progress since 2007 on the New Meadows and McCall Ranger Districts. Thinning on the McCall Ranger District in the Bear Basin vicinity was completed last year. The New Meadows District will continue near Rock Flat in the next few years. The spring's bum will cover about 80 acres with other bums planned for the next five to seven years, a news release said. Idaho 55 and local roads will be posted with caution signs and maps of the prescribed bum locations. Motorists should exercise caution and watch for stopped vehicles. possible smoke, firefighters, and potential delays on the day of the bum. the release said. Fire personnel will work closely with agencies to ensure that smoke is kept to a minimum and buming will be stopped if too much smoke is produced. Controlled burning is intended to rejuvenate shrubs and grasses to improve habitat for browse, upland game birds and small mammals. Reducing fuels that have accumulated as a result of fire suppression over the past 100 years also promotes long-term ecosystem sustainability, the Payette release said. Information can be found at www.rxfire.com. For questions, call Dave Vining or Rob Morrow at 634- 0400- http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 5/10/2012 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Appeals may delay Council Mountain forest projects Horseman's group, retired planner dislike methods proposed BY CARISSA SINDON for The Star -News Jobs for a massive series of forest projects covering 25,000 acres in the Council Mountain area of Adams County may be in jeopardy. Two appeals have been received for the Mill Creek -Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project that was approved by the Payette National Forest in April. Work was scheduled to begin this summer with the award of a contract for about eight million board feet of timber and about 5800,000 worth of road improvements. All the work in the project is projected to take five to seven years to complete. The appeals were filed by the Heartland Back Country Horsemen and Dick Artley, a retired forest planner who lives in Orangeville. The appeals will go to the Forest Service's regional office in Ogden, Utah, and a committee of representatives from other forests will review the project record, Payette forest Public Affairs Officer Laura Pramuk said. The committee will make a recommendation to Regional Forester Hary Forsgren whether the decision should be upheld, sent back to the Payette forest for revisions or overturned, Pramuk said. If the project is allowed to go through, the Payette should be able to award the first contracts this year, she said. Heartland Back Country Horsemen of Idaho describe the project as "unbalanced' because "resources are heavily weighted to environmental priorities — in particular to the obliteration of roads.' Fish Over Recreation 'HBCH finds that this (project) does not envision a balanced approach, Whckding the recreational desires of our group and many others in the local community' the appeal letter from President Jean Luze Revaul said. Protection of fish and endangered species, and not recreation, was the driving force behind the decision, Revaul said. Artley, who worked for the Nez Perce National Forest, accused Payette forest Supervisor Keith Lannom of violating the law by failing to take a'hard look' at the environmental consequences of the project. The public has been denied the necessary information to make an informed decision on the project, Artley said in his appeal. -(Lannom) has denied the pubkc both sides of the story to increase the chances that the timber sales will have public approval," he said. The Mill -Creek Council Mountain project is being funded in part by a $2.45 million grant the Payette received earlier this year to accelerate the pace of forest restoration and job creation. Projects for Mill Creek -Council Mountain include controlled burns, road removal and realignment, culvert replacement, and road re -surfacing. Recreation work is also planned, including 'railhead improvements, trail construction and three new vault toilets. The project will restore ponderosa pine stands to historic conditions and improve habitat for white - headed woodpecker, elk and northern Idaho ground squirrels. The project is the result of three years of study and collaboration among the Forest Service, Native American tribes, local governments and the Payette Forest Coalition, a broad -based citizens' advisory committee, of which the Heartland Back Country Horsemen is a member. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 5/31 /2012 Star -News News Page_Announcements Page 1 of 1 Brinkley named new manager for McCall Smokejumper Base Joe Brinkley has been named as the new manager for the McCall Smokejumper Base, replacing long- time Base Manager Frankie Romero. Brinkley is a career firefighter and has spent the last 15 years at the McCall base. He is from Bums, Ore., and began his firefighting career there working for the BLM in 1990. In 1994 he switched over to the Forest Service and was part of the Prineville Hotshot Crew from 1995 to 1997. The next summer he began his stint as a smokejumper as a rookie at the McCall base. In 2007 Brinkley became the assistant loadmaster and the next year moved into the loadmaster position. He has also detail served in the Payette's supervisor's office as the deputy fire staff officer. 'Leadership development in yourself and others is an integral part of being a McCall smokejumper and one of my goals as base manager is to continue and improve this tradition," Brinkley said. The McCall Smokejumper Base was established in 19, and jumpers can be deployed all over the United States. There are 70 smokejumpers at the base this year, including 13 rookies. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/announcements_page.php 6/7/2012 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Appeals denied on Council Mountain project Decision clears way for timber cutting, other work The Forest Service has denied appeals that had threatened to delay a series of forest projects covering 25,000 acres in the Council Mountain area of Adams County. The denial means projects will now move forward on the Mill Creek -Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project. The project calls for cutting 27 million board -feet of timber plus other projects to improve forest health and recreation uses over the next five to 10 years. The first project to be started this year will be the Cottonwood Timber Sale and $600,000 in road improvements, a Payette National Forest news release said. Two appeals were filed by the Heartland Back Country Horsemen of Idaho and Dick Artley, a retired forest planner who lives in Orangeville. Artley said the public was denied the necessary information to make an informed decision on the project. The horsemen's group described the project as 'unbalanced" because "resources are heavily weighted to environmental priorities - in particular to the obliteration of roads.' President Jean Luze Revaul said she was disappointed by the rejection of the appeal issued by Intermountain Regional Forester Hary Forsgren in Ogden, Utah. Revaul noted the original decision said a proposal by the horseman to install a vault toilet at the Deseret Cabin Trailhead did not meet the 'minimum recreation use.' 'When did using the bathroom become a recreation use?' she said. The Payette said the horsemen club and other could team up to install and clean the vault toilets, Revaul said. "A vault toilet costs around $19,000 to buildd: our budget could never cover that' she said. "I'm not gong out and cleaning then toilets!' Funded by Grant The Mill Creek -Council Mountain project is being funded in part by a $2.45 million grant the Payette received earlier this year to accelerate the pace of forest restoration and job creation. Projects include controtled burns, road removal and realignment, culvert replacement, and road re -- surfacing. Recreation work planned includes trailhead improvements and trail construction. The project is intended to restore ponderosa pine stands to historic conditions and improve habitat for white -headed woodpecker, elk and northem Idaho ground squirrels. The project is the resuN of three years of study and collaboration among the Forest Service, Native Amencan tribes, local governments and the Payette Forest Coalition, a broad -based citizens' advisory committee of which the Heartland Back Country Horsemen is a member. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/5/2012 The Star News Groups Page Page 1 of 1 The Payette National Forest is the local site for the Feds Feed Families food drive among federal government employees and the general public. The campaign asks federal employees and anyone else to donate two pounds of nonperishable food every week at the Payette's fire warehouse at 1000 Mission St. in McCall. The warehouse has collected 530 pound of canned food and juice since the drive started on June 1, said Stephanie Orcutt, a Payette employee who works at the warehouse. National recognition is given to food drives that collect at least 1,000 pounds of food, Orcuri said The food collected so far been distributed to the Heartland Hunger Resource Center in McCall and the Council Food Bank_ The drive will continue through Sept. 1. Orcutt also has organized a Pet Panty at the Donnelly Food Bank and Free Store and is asking for donations of small bags of dog or cat food. Tuesdays have been designated'2 Can Tuesday with donors asked to bring two cans, packages or boxes of the following: • Canned protein, such as tuna, saknon, chicken, peanut butter and beans. • Canned fruit • Hygiene items such as diapers, deodorants for men and women, feminine products, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and shampoo. • Small bags of dog or cat food. • Canned vegetables • Pasta and rice For questions, contact Orcutt at 315-3249 or Phil Lievsay at 634-09. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/groups_page.php 7/5/2012 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page I of 1 Runners, cyclists should watch for sheep in Bear Basin As many as 7,000 domestic sheep will be making their way through the Bear Basin Recreational Area this month on their way to higher elevations, the Payette National Forest reported. The bands of sheep will be escorted by several guard and herding dogs, plus herders leading pack strings. Groups of sheep will make their way across Bear Basin area between Tuesdays and about July 25. Forest users are advised against walking their dogs in the area due to the potential conflicts with guard dogs and sheep, the release said Bicyclists are also cautioned to dismount their bikes and to move slowly when encountering guard dogs. Signs will be installed at trailheads and trail junctions. Hikers or other visitors may encounter livestock while on forest trails this summer, including the Lick Creek Road corridor, Boulder Lake, and the Warren Wagon Road corridor. For questions, call the McCall Ranger District office at 634-0400. http://www.mecallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 7/12/2012 Events and Arts The StarNews Page 1 of 1 AROUND T01NN Poem by Sot, Hehwu 7R.A1LING OF THE SHEEP - Harr r Soulen of Wessel handles the lead sheep of a baud of yrarbugs across over Sheep Bridge the North Font of the Payette Pryer m McCall on Saturday lu au annual ritual the m...t_ sheep owned by Souleu Lw-estock Co of IVener were unwed from lower pasnwes to lusher grasses nen Jughandle MowGnu http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/events_arts_page.php 7/12/2012 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Sen. Crapo praises work of Payette Forest Coalition for teamwork BY KENDEL Tfi!RRANT For The Star -News U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-idaho, on Tuesday commended the Payette Forest Coalition and its teamwork approach to problem solving and assured his support from Washington, D.C. The coalition, now in its third year, is an independent organization that represents a wide variety of interests, from backcountry recreation to conservation groups to unaffiliated citizens. The group provides recommendations to the Payette National Forest about forest restoration -related items. The coalition is novel in that it invites all interest groups to help find solutions to forest -related issues that have, in the past, been difficult to negotiate, Crapo told the group at Bear Creek Lodge near McCall. "Historically, we've had tremendous conflict over forest issues, resources, access, and environmental interest," he said. "I want to be sure the people of this community and those in this effort know they have my support for the decisions they are engaged In." Pa. fee The Str.Neve by Kmdd bivea Sen Nhts Crapo. R-Iddro, speala to members of the Payette Forest Coalition on Tuesday at Bev Creek Lodge. Crapo has represented Idaho in Congress for 14 years and serves on the environment and public works committee. He said the coalition's teamwork is exactly the kind of partnership that will get things done. I leamed early on, you've got to have everyone at the table You're going to have conflict if you don't have complete involvement," Crapo said. "I'm hoping, from my end, to help make the process more smooth, but I think what you have going on here is exactly the right way to go about decision making," he said. Tuesday's address was Crapo's first talking to the coalition, although his staff has been involved from the beginning, he said. The coalition is credited with helping gain approval for the Mill Creek -Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project, which will cover 25,000 acres in Adams County. The project is expected to take five to seven years to complete and create around 35 jobs, according to estimates. The project was the results of three years of study and collaboration among the Forest Service, Native American tribes, local govemments and the coalition. Projects will include commercial timber harvest, controlled burns, road removal and realignment, culvert replacement and road re -surfacing. Recreation work is also planned, including trailhead improvements, trail construction and vault toilets. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/23/2012 Information and Health The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Payette donates Leopold materials to libraries The McCall and Meadows Valley public libraries have received copies of a book and movie about conservationist, author and forester Aldo Leopold from the Payette National Forest. Copies of Leopold's book, "The Sand County Almanac" and a DVD of the documentary "Green Fire" were presented last week by forest Supervisor Keith Lannom to Zoya Linden of the McCall library and Audrey Crogh of the Meadows Valley library. The Payette sponsored several community screenings of "Green Fire" last winter and loaned the DVD to local high school biology teachers for screenings this spring. Public Affairs Officer Laura Pramuk then purchased copies of the book and DVD for donation after learning the schools and libraries did not have their own. "I hope that by making these materials available more people will be able to enjoy the beauty of Leopold's writing and learn from his unique life joumey about the importance of land ethics and conservation' Lannom said. Phew courtery i.ett Na"ed ism From left, Audrey Crogh of the Meadow Valley Public Library, Payette National Forest Supervisor Keith Lannon' and Zoya Linden of the McCall Public Library bold copies of books and MTh about Aldo Leopold donated to the libraries be the Payette "Green Fire° explores Leopold's 1rfe in the early part of the 20th Century and the many ways his land ethic shaped conservation in modem times and continues to inspire people today. "The Sand County Almanac" is considered to be one of the finest examples of nature writing since Thoreaus's "Walden" and is one of the most influential works written about humans and the environment. Additional donations to area high schools and libraries will take place in the future. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/info_page.php 8/23/2012 Information and Health The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Problems with trees extend beyond bark beetles BY JOHN LILLEH3UG for The Star -News There are several other insect problems affecting local trees that are not bark beetles Some of the spruce trees that have been planted as omamentals in your lawn may see the top leader suddenly droop and eventually tum red. The white pine weevil, or spruce tip weevil, overwinters in the ground then the adult crawls up the tree and mines into the new leader growth where it lays the eggs during the latter part of June. Newly hatched larvae initially feed just under the bark. You can peel the bark away and see dark fibers next to the wood where they have been living and feeding. Typically the leader will begin to droop following the girdling, then die and turn red or brown. The larvae then bore into the pith of the tree leader where they remain through the rest of their larval development. This beetle can be dealt with when you notice the tip starting to droop by cutting the terminal back till you no longer see the dark color between the bark and wood. Also, a good preventative is spraying the tree in late May before the adult emerges and crawls up the tree. BALSAM WOOLLY ADELGID Another insect that is affecting the subalpine fir is the balsam woolly adelgid. The tiny insect attracts itself to the trunk of the tree or underneath the lower branches and is covered by a white woolly substance much like a small cotton balls. Ways to observe the presence of this insect are looking for the white dots on the trunk or seeing some branches with the needles tuming red. If the tree hasn't been heavily attacked a systemic chemical can be used to treat this tiny insect. Also, pruning of the lower branches to allow more sunlight to the trunk helps. ASPEN WOOD BORER Aspen trees have a wood borer that is attacking them. Typically the wood borer larvae favor dead trees but will attack live Aspen. You will see a hole in the trunk with dark colored pitch oozing down the bark and large coarse boring residue at the entrance point. Again, a systemic chemical has been effective in treating this insect_ APHID Another small insect that may soon appear is the aphid which can attack many different species of trees. These tiny creatures have a piercing mouth part through which the feed on sap from nearly all parts of the host plant. Damage on needles may result in yellow spots where they have sucked the sap. This insect excretes a sticky substance known as "honeydew" which often attracts many ants, which is a good way to identify if you have an Aphid problem. Treatment can be as simple as spraying soapy water to the spot where the Aphids are concentrated. For questions, call me at 634-7125. (John Lillehaug is a private forestry specialist with the Idaho Department of Lands in McCall.) http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/info_page.php 8/30/2012 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Comment period extended on Golden Hand study The comment period has been extended on the draft environmental study for the Golden Hand No. 1 & 2 Lode Mining Claims Drilling Project on the Payette National Forest. Sept. 17 is the new comment deadline on the draft study on the environmental effects of the three- year project, proposed for the Big Creek drainage on the Krassel Ranger District. The project would involve core drilling, excavation of sample pits, and the re -opening of a collapsed mine adit approximately 19 miles north of Yellow Pine. The area is located inside the Frank Church River of No Retum Wilderness. Temporary roads, use of mechanized equipment, mining, crew housing, and storage would occur within the wilderness. The claims cover about 20 acres each and are located near Coin Creek, a tributary of Beaver Creek, which flows into Big Creek, a tributary of the Middle Fork Salmon River. The application was submitted by American Independence Mines and Minerals Company. The Payette may not deny a plan of operation as long as it is "not needlessly destructive,' and complies with applicable federal mining laws and regulations, a news release said. A detailed description can be found at http /iwww.fs.usda.gov/payette. Written comments may be submitted to: Payette N.F., ATTN: Forest Supervisor Keith Lannom, 800 W. Lakeside Ave., McCall, ID, 83638. Comments may also be seM by e-mail to comments-intermtn- payette-krassel@fs.fed.us. Call Jeff Hunteman at 634-0434 or Krassel District Ranger Anthony Botello at 634-0601 for more information. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public lands_page.php 8/30/2012 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Hunters on OHVs urged to stay on designated trails Officials with the Idaho Off -Highway Vehicle Public Outreach Campaign are urging people who use ATVs or motorbikes during hunting season to stay on designated trails and do their homework to ensure that the trails they plan to ride are open. Some new resources are available. Officials with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Department of Fish and Game say that hunters riding off -trail on ATVs or motorbikes continues to be a problem on public lands during hunting season. "We are most concemed with instances where a hunter drives off -trail to scout for game or retrieve game," said Andy Brunelle, a spokesman for the Forest Service. "One set of tracks through the brush or in a meadow can invite others to do the same, and the impacts add up, damaging vegetation and causing soil erosion into streams," Brunelle said. About 70 percent of the 240,000 people who hunt in Idaho during the fall months are using motorbikes or ATVs to get to their hunting areas, according to the latest survey. Under the Forest Service's National Travel Rule, "it's incumbent on the user to know if the trail is open or closed" regardless if the trail is signed appropriately, forest officials said. People have been known to shoot signs full of bullet holes, remove signs or vandalize them. "We want to remind hunters to stay on trails and be courteous to other users," said Jon Heggen, enforcement chief for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Hunters also should be aware that a new state law requires youths who do not have a drivers license to take a free safety course before they ride OHVs on forest roads. Also, youths under age 18 are required to wear a helmet when riding on an OHV or driving one. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 9/6/2012 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Payette seeks comments on snowmobile closure The Payette National Forest is seeking comments on a proposal to again close about 4,730 acres on Granite Mountain to snowmobiles this winter. The closure would be from Jan. 15 to March 31 to allow exclusive use by backcountry skiers. An open house on the proposal will be held next Thursday, Oct. 25, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Payette's Supervisor's Office at 800 W. Lakeside Ave. The area was closed last winter, and next week's meeting is to gather comments on that closure. "We feel the closure was successful last year" Payette Recreation Program Manager Jane Cropp said "I talked to dozens of snowmobilers about the closure and none of them told me it negatively affected their experience " Comments can be made at the Oct_ 25 meeting, to Cropp at 634-0757 or Public Affairs Office Gina Bonaminio at 634-0784. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php l 0/ 18/2012 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Payette forest proposes overnight rentals of cabins The McCall Ranger District of the Payette National Forest is gathering comments on a proposal to begin ovemight rentals of three cabins on the forest. "These rental cabins can provide a great opportunity for the public to enjoy the Payette National Forest while retaining some of the comforts of home, such as a roof over their head," McCall District Ranger Lisa Klinger said_ Currently, the sites are used by Forest Service personnel as needed. Each site has several buildings, some of which would remain available for Forest Service personnel. The majority of the revenue collected would remain on the Payette to operate, maintain and improve the facilities, Klinger said. Here is a description of each cabin: Burgdorf The cabin is located adjacent to the privately owned and operated Burgdorf Hot Springs. Nearby are two developed campgrounds and trails. fl,nm courtesy Pape2 National Fam the Payette National Forest Is proposing rentntg cabius, such as these at Paddy Flat east of Donnelly. to ocenn& guests Available from Oct. 16 to June 1 for $65 per night without water and from June 1 to Oct. 15 for $85 per night with running water. The cabin sleeps five to eight people, contains a flush toilet, shower, propane heat, lights and appliances, beds with mattresses, kitchen gear, cooking stove, wood stove and other amenities. Paddy Flat The cabin is located in the Paddy Flat area about 12 miles from Donnelly and sleeps two to four people Kennally Creek Campground is about 10 miles away and serves as a trailhead. Available from June 1 to Nov. 15 for $65 per night. There is room near the cabin for several RV units The cabin contains a flush toilet, running water, propane heat, lights and appliances, beds with mattresses, a cooking stove, fireplace, cooking utensils and furniture. Lake Fork This cabin is located up the Lick Creek Road about eight miles from McCall and sleeps two to four people. The Lake Fork Campground is one mile from the site, and there are numerous trails nearby. Available from June 1 to Oct. 15 for $65 per night. There is a flush toilet, running water, propane heat, lights and appliances, wood stove, cooking oven, cooking utensils, plates and furniture. Also available on site is a yurt which can sleep four people. Comments should be sent to Jane Cropp, Payette National Forest Recreation Program Manager at jcropp@fs.fed.us, 634-0757, or 800 W. Lakeside Ave., McCall, ID 83638. The proposal will be presented to the Idaho BLM Resource Advisory Committee, a citizens committee, early next year and will be reviewed by regional and national offices of the Forest Service. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 10/25/2012 Star -News News Page_Announcements Page 1 of 1 Payette Forest Coalition receives partnership award The Payette Forest Coalition has received the 2012 Intermountain Regional Forester's group award for partnerships. The group will be honored at an awards ceremony held in Ogden, Utah, on Nov. 27. The Payette Forest Coalition is a diverse group of citizens who represent over a dozen interest groups. This coalition collaborated with the Payette National Forest to develop recommendations on the Mill Creek/Council Mountain project covering 50,000 acres in Adams County. The partnership between the coalition and the Payette is viewed by both groups as a long-term relationship based on landscape restoration goals, a news release said. The coalition is collaborating on another landscape restoration project on the New Meadows Ranger District that is about 80,000 acres. More information on the coalition can be found at www.spatialinterest.info/PayetteForward http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/announcements_page.php 11 /1 /2012 Star -News News Page_Lead Story Page 1 of 1 First contracts awarded for Mill Creek -Council Mountain projects More projects planned for 24, 000-acre area BY TOM GROTF, The Stu -News The first contracts have been awarded in series of projects to be conducted on 24,000 acres on the Payette National Forest in Adams County. The largest of the contracts will see about eight million board feet of timber cut from the area, known as the Mill Creek -Council Mountain area. Evergreen Forest of New Meadows was awarded the $1.2 million project that includes projects to improve the forest's health in addition to taking out trees, said Whitey Rehberg, the timber contracting officer for the Payette forest. Evergreen and (kola Logging of McCall will begin the work next fall on the project, which will include removing logging roads from previous timber sales and removal of slash, Rehberg said. The logging will start once road work in the area is completed. That contract, worth about $1 million, was awarded to Cook and Sons Construction of White Bird. Work started this fall with the installation of one large culvert but work was halted by winter weather, Rehberg said. Roads will be built as Evergreen and (kola move through the forest on their project, he said. It is not known how many jobs will be created by the contracts, Rehberg said "The contractors may sub out some of the work, we could get a high -production logger that moves a lot of wood in a short time or several loggers that move a few loads a day but may work longer," he said. Three to four more logging and forest health projects are planned for the area over the next two years, Rehberg said Next year, 600 acres will be bid for conventional logging while 250 acres will be sold for helicopter logging. More Projects Coming In 2014, contract will be offered for projects such as timber stand improvement, and removal of slash to be bumed for energy production. In all, about 5,600 acres of within the project area will be logged for commercial use, Rehberg said. The Mill Creek -Council Mountain project is being funded in part by a $2.45 million grant the Payette received earlier this year to accelerate the pace of forest restoration and job creation. Projects for Mill Creek -Council Mountain include controlled burns, road removal and realignment, culvert replacement, and road re -surfacing. Recreation work is also planned, including trailhead improvements, trail construction and three new vault toilets. The project will restore ponderosa pine stands to historic conditions and improve habitat for white - headed woodpeckers, elk and northern Idaho ground squirrels. The project is the result of three years of study and collaboration among the Forest Service, Native American tribes, local govemments and the Payette Forest Coalition, a broad -based citizens' advisory committee. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 11 / 15/2012 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Payette forest notes burning of slash piles The Payette National Forest will be burning slash piles from timber cutting across the New Meadows, McCall, and Krassel ranger districts. Pile burning will occur in Warm Springs, Boulder Creek, Rock Flats, and Bear Basin Buming on parcels less than five acres will occur near Krassel Work Center, Paddy Flat, Price Valley Guard Station, and Secesh Meadows. Depending on weather conditions, burning may take place this month or in December. Fire personnel will work closely with air -quality officials to reduce smoke settling on residential areas. Residual smoke may be visible for up to one week following ignition, but most of the smoke from the fires will dissipate one day after ignition, a news release said. Visit www.smokemu.org/map.cfn-1 for more information. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public lands_page.php 11 / 15/2012 Star -News News Page Announcements Page 1 of 1 Payette National Forest, coalition, win regional awards The Payette National Forest and the Payette Forest Coalition have received Regional Forester awards for 2012. The awards were presented recently at an awards ceremony in Ogden, Utah. The Payette Forest Coalition was awarded the Group Partnership award. The coalition worked collaboratively with the Payette National Forest to develop recommendations on a proposal for restoring vegetation and habitats across a 50,000 acre area in Adams County. The Payette forest received the group award for Safety and Occupational Health. Regional Forester Awards are presented each year for outstanding achievement in Region 4 by Forest Service partners and employees. Region 4 is comprised of 12 national forests and one national grassland in Utah, Nevada, Western Wyoming, and southern and central Idaho with the regional headquarters in Ogden. <,411/14 J Photo, cote Form Sconce At top. representances of the Payette National Forest teemed a repomal gaup award for safety and occupational heath From left are Hate Fotsgreu. Gate Bncun. Marlene Finley and Laurie Sotpu At bottom, the Payette Forest C O.abt1011 wou a reponal goup award for partnership From left are Hary Fotsgren, Bob Giles, lb•eg Lesch, Dave Toren, Marlene Finley and Laurie Swyu. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/announcements_page.php 12/13/2012 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Granite Mountain snovvrnobile closure goes into effect Snowmobilers were banned from the Granite Mountain area starting on Tuesday, the Payette National Forest said. The closure will last until March 31 The closure is intended to give backcountry skiers their own experience without the disruption or safety hazards of snowmobiles, the Payette said. Map with the closure area outlined are available at any Payette offices, snowmobile trailheads and online at www,fs.usda.gov/main/payette/home. For questions, call Recreation Program Manager Jane Cropp at 634-0757. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 1 / 17/2013 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 March 20 meeting to review 80,000-acre project near NM A public meeting on Wednesday, March 20, will let the public see plans for the proposed Lost Creek - Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project near New Meadows. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. March 20 at the New Meadows Ranger District office. Among those who will take questions will be Payette National Forest Supervisor Keith Lannom and New Meadows District Ranger Kim Pierson. The Lost Creek -Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project is part of the Payette forests Weiser Little Salmon Headwaters Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project. The project is one of 10 projects in the nation selected last year as part of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program. The proposed project would cover about 80,000 acres on the New Meadows Ranger District about 10 miles north and west of New Meadows. The work would take place along Boulder Creek, a tributary to the Little Salmon, and in the headwaters of the Weiser River and the West Fork of the Weiser River. Proposed projects include timber harvest, thinning, and controlled buming. Recreation improvements would be primarily focused in the Lost Valley Reservoir area and include rerouting trails, installing trail signs, installing toilets, improving and constructing trailhead parking, installing information kiosks, and gravelling campsites and campground access roads. Twenty new miles of ATV routes would be designated and signed, and there will be conversion of roads to ATV trails, road closures or decommissioning. A detailed project description is available at www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=33830 The project is based in part on recommendations provided by the Payette Forest Coalition, a collaborative group representing a broad range of interests, including conservationists, the timber industry, recreational groups, and state and county governments. Submit comments by March 27 to comments-intenMn-payette©fs.fed.us or 347-0300, or deliver to the Payette forest supervisor's office at 800 W. Lakeside Avenue in McCall. For questions on the project, contact Ken Meyers at 347-0344 or kmeyers0l@fs.fed.us. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 3/7/2013 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 South Fork Ro3;1 weight limits posted Temporary weight restrictions have been posted on the South Fork Salmon River Road beginning at the junction of Warm Lake Highway and continuing for 31 miles to East Fork Road. The restrictions are necessary to prevent damage to the road surface during spring thaw, a Payette National Forest news release said. Vehicle weight restrictions reduce road maintenance costs and help prevent runoff into the South Fork Salmon River, the release said. Signs identifying restrictions have been installed at each end of the South Fork Road and along Warm Lake Highway about two miles east of Idaho 55. Prohibited are vehicles with a weight of more than 10,000 pounds on the steering axle and tire width less than nine inches, and a weight of more than 300 pound per inch of tire on all other axles. The weight restrictions will be lifted by June 1. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 3/14/2013 Worse Than 2007? S/ a I (3 Fire managers predict widespread_ Brest fires this summer "I would expect our fire season will start earlier and it's expected to go later Bob Shindelar BY DAN GALLAGIIER for The Star -News Forest fires this summer have the potential to be as bad or worse than the record fire year of 2007, commissioners on Monday. "We're stating we're going to have a busier season than last year and last year was one of our bus Fire Management Officer Bob Shindelar. "Last year, the conditions were drier than 2007, and it's likely we'll be even drier than we were last The Payette forest lost nearly 400,000 acres to fires in 2007 that shattered the previous record yea acres turned to charcoal. The Boise forest saw nearly 250,000 acres burned, which bested its former record year in 1992 by hap://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/archive_2013/05 09 13 webedition/Copy%200f%20fp_stories_page.php 5/28/20I3 This week's front page stories Page 3 of 5 Fighting the Cascade Complex cost more than $50 million. Five structures were lost to the fire, whi Creek and Warm Lake. The East Zone Complex Fire claimed 13 structures as it threatened Warren, Secesh and South Fo million. "Having the effects from last year along with this year's dryness is really setting us up for pretty ser would expect our fire season will start earlier and it's expected to go later in the season." Low Lightning Year While the Boise had an active 2012 fire year with large blazes in the Trinity Mountains and elsewhe the number of lightning fires was below normal, he said. There is little sign of substantial precipitation soon, Shindelar said. At this point, it would take above to catch up, he said. "We were in the donut hole last summer for lightning -caused fires," said Gary Brown, the Payette P officer. Lightning storms peppered surrounding areas such as the Nez Perce National Forest, but spared tl Readings taken on May 2 saw a 12.6 percent reading for large dead trees laying on the ground, Br year should exceed 20 percent and on average reach the 12 percent level in early July, he said. Grasses along the Snake River up to 3,500 feet in elevation on the western Payette is already curir The Payette will have staffing levels very similar to past year, at about 200 people, he said. The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Road work underway on Mill Creek -Council Mountain project Road reconstruction, surface gravelling, and culvert upgrades have begun on the Mill Creek -Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project near Council. Work is underway on Mill Creek Road 165 and Cottonwood Road 199 from Shingle Flat southwest along Road 165 and south along Road 199 to Cottonwood Creek. The work is taking place in the Council Ranger District of the Payette National Forest. Travelers on the roads are likely to be delayed during the work, which is being done on Mondays through Fridays, a news release said. Road surfacing will improve driving conditions and reduce runoff of sediment into streams. Replacement of culverts will allow better passage of fish under those roads. The road improvements will also provide access to timber stands for cutting as part of the Cottonwood Timber Sale stewardship contract. The Mill Creek -Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project is the first project in the Payette's Little Salmon Headwaters Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration project; The project covers 970,000 acres spanning three ranger distncts on the Payette in collaboration with the Payette Forest Coalition citizens advisory group. More information can be found online at www.fs.usda.gov/payette. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/publiciands page.php 5/30/2013 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Payette welcomes employees, bids farewell to Moore The Payette National Forest has announce two new incoming employees and has bid farewell to a departing employee. Brian Harris has accepted the public affairs officer position on the Payette. Harris was formerly the public affairs officer on the Cleveland National Forest in California Harris started his career working on the Payette in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and has also worked on the Boise, and Klamath national forests. George Panek has accepted the natural resource staff officer position on the Payette. Panek most recently worked on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests. He has a broad career in natural resource management in the western U.S. and vaned collaborative experience. Carol Moore, executive assistant to Payette Supervisor Keith Lannom, has accepted a promotion to executive assistant to the Regional Forester in Region 1 of the Forest Service in Missoula, Mont. Moore started her Forest Service career in Elk City and has served as executive assistant and a member of the Forest Leadership Team on the Payette since 2001. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 5/30/2013 Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 The story, " Trout are Made of Trees," by April Pulley Sayre, will be posted at the trail all summer. Families can walk the 1/4-mile trail and read the story along the way. The Long Valley Branch of AAUW provided the books used in the story trail. The book will also be featured as a temporary story trail at the Payerie Children's Forest launch event Saturday, July 13, at the Bear Basin Trailhead near McCall from 9 a.m. to noon. The Payette Children's Forest is a new organization that is looking for partners to provide outdoor recreation, education, stewardship or work experiences for youth in Adams or Valley counties. Grants will be available, with Photo by Owe...ma Dl-D STUDENTS A1TTAYLOR RANCH - These students from McCall -Donnell- High School Environmental Science class recently took its annual by to the University of Idaho fMtdoor Research Station at Tailor Rauch made the Frank Church River of No Relmu Wilderness Students studied macro-mwrtebrates, and viewed ancient pit homes and pehogllilu diming their overnight stay Standing from left, are Dawel Cope, Gunnar Baker, Blake Jubau. Timm Hinson, Trevor Sunpson. Jeff Romer, Max Tones. Kellen Crawford Lams Hammond teachers Debbie Fe'eday and Matt Hell hake,Te Brown, Seara Straw. and Ashley Lewis, Front row, from left, are Ctutlm Capno, Brooke Thomas. and Bl}n Kenvell http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/prep_schools_page.php 6/20/2013 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 New fishing pond to be dedicated north of Payette Lake A new fishing pond at the Northwest Passage Campground north of Payette Lake will be dedicated on Saturday. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Ponderosa State Park invite anglers and the public to see the Northwest Passage Pond from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Park entrance fees will be waived at the campground and fishing licenses will not be needed during the event. Staff will be available to help new anglers learn to fish and there will be fishing poles, tackle, and bait. Hot dogs and drinks will be served for lunch. It. wart, Nedcvw Suit Pt,k The new Noittnyest Passage fishing pond just north of Payette Lake aril be dedtrated on Sattniday To get to the new pond, drive on Warren Wagon Road from Idaho 55 seven miles to East Side Drive, tum right and then a quick right into the Northwest Passage Campground. The $42,000 pond was built last October. Funds for construction came from F&G, the Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Fund and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation as well as the cutthroat trout license plate fund. The 3/4-acre pond has a new parking lot and a vault toilet, and a hardened path leads down to the pond. The F&G will keep the pond stocked with nine -inch rainbow trout. Future amenities will include a fishing dock, picnic tables and a picnic shelter. The contractor for the project was J. I. Morgan, Inc. of New Meadows. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 6/27/2013 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Payette Children's Forest to help youth outdoor groups A new group designed to encourage outdoor education for youths will kick off its activities next week in McCall. The Payette Children's Forest will hold a "launch event" from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 13, at the Bear Basin recreation trailhead off Idaho 55 west of McCall. Hikes, art activities, a scavenger hunt, and other activities are planned. "This will be a fun event where children and their parents have an opportunity to get out in the woods, team about the natural environment and spend quality time together," Payette National Forest Supervisor Keith Lannom said. "We hope that locals, as well as visitors in the greater McCall area, will participate." The Payette Children's Forest is not a specific place. It is a network of partners who have an interest in bringing outdoor activities to places where children can explore the outdoor world through leaming, recreation and stewardship activities, a news release said. The goal of the group is to provide meaningful and affordable outdoor education and recreation for youth in Adams and Valley counties, said Sara Anderegg, an intem with the Payette National Forest from the University of Idaho who serves as the outreach coordinator for the group. "We hope to encourage participation in a wide range of outdoor opportunities that already exist in the area," Anderegg said. Partners participating in the July 13 event are Little Ski Hill, the McCall Outdoor Science School, Payette National Forest, Idaho Power Co., McCall Public Library, Midas Gold Inc., Ponderosa State Park, Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary, the McCall Arts and Humanities Council and Trout Unlimited, and more. Each group will host a booth with outdoor activities for the July 13 event The Payette Children's Forest is funded primarily by a grant from the Forest Service with additional funding from the Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, Idaho Power Co., and the Whdtenberger Foundation. Grants up to $2,000 for participating organizations to plan and conduct future events are available through the Payette Children's Forest. For information, contact Gina Bonaminio or Leslie Freeman at (208) 860-7229 or at info@payettechildrensforest.org http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 7/3/2013 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Forest Service grants permit to rebuild burned Big Creek Lodge The effort to rebuild Big Creek Lodge on the edge of the Frank Church River of No Return Wildemess has received a boost with the granting of a permit by the Payette National Forest. The permit was formally signed by Krassel District Ranger Anthony Botello during a recent breakfast event that drew 85 people and raised 36,000 for the rebuilding effort. The operations permit will allow the Idaho Aviation Foundation to accelerate its effort to rebuild the lodge, which bumed in 2008. Big Creek is located about 25 miles north of Yellow Pine in the backcountry of Valley County. So far, about $450,000 has been raised toward the group's goal of $800,000 to rebuild the lodge near the Big Creek airstrip and provide operating funds. Sketch corky I446o Anshan 'madman Sketch shows pLw for rebuddrug Big Creek Lodge In early June, a work party of about 30 volunteers cut down nearly 30 snags killed from the 2008 fire and cleaned and disinfected the surviving duplex cabin, foundation Vice President Colleen Back of Boise said. The volunteers also fixed doors on the former general store and worked on the various water systems to get them running again, Back said. The foundation plans to host events at the site during construction and after completion of the lodge, which is projected for next year or 2015, said Back who is manager of the project. The plan calls for a structure of about 3,500 square feet, and will project a backcountry feel to complement the area, she said. The new design will help shed snow more efficiently that the previous lodge, simplify water management and provide more comfortable services for guests while giving caretakers more space, Back said. The lodge will be a two-story log structure with a basement for cold storage. A dining area for 20 or more people is planned with an open common area for overflow. Operations at the new lodge would run from mid -spring to mid -fall, with winter operations being considered. For information, go to www.rebuildbigcreek.com. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 7/3/2013 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Volunteers save birds with restroom vents Volunteers on the Payette National Forest have installed 15 protective caps on restroom vents to keep birds from getting trapped and dying. The vents have been installed in restrooms at the Upper Payette Lake and Grouse Campgrounds and the work will continue in other campgrounds throughout the Payette. Steve and Barbara Huff are conducting the volunteer work as members of the McCall Chapter of the Master Naturalist program. The group's mission is to "develop a group of well- informed volunteers to actively work toward stewardship Of Idaho's natural environment." The Master Naturalist program is sponsored by Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The vent caps are being installed to protect birds and other wildlife that can fly into the dark, narrow spaces for nesting and roosting. Entering the vent pipes can trap birds, which eventually kills them. "This is a widespread problem that impacts several species of concem, such as the Boreal Owl, particularly here in the McCall area," said Jane Cropp, the Payette's recreation program manager. Aga II. and/0l IICi Mg. calk MP, Mambo. VohvYeas Steve and Babas Huff install Vent raps ar a Forest Service tearoom. Volunteers from the Master Naturalists will continue to install vent caps throughout the summer. "This is the second volunteer project the group has worked on this year here on the Payette," Cropp said. "We are very happy to have them on board as a partner.' The first project was the building of trail registration boxes on the Krassel Ranger District. For more information on the vent caps, contact Cropp at 634-0757. For information on the Master Naturalist program, contact Sara Focht at sara.focht@idfg.idaho.gov. Back To Menu/Index http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 7/3/2013 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Payette National Forest gets to work on roads, trails Crews working for the Payette National Forest will be busy this summer repairing roads and trails throughout the forest. Unless otherwise noted, the public can expect delays of 30 minutes or less when they come upon road work. FALL CREEK A temporary bridge over Fall Creek a few miles east of Payette Lake used to get to forest lands just north of the Crestline Trail and Blackwell Lake will be removed within the next two weeks. The bridge will be replaced with a ford that can be crossed by hikers and mountain bikers during low water. The temporary bridge was installed in 1995, but has been left in place since then. It is being removed due to the north abutment being severely eroded, and in danger of being washed out in the next high water event. Burgdorf- French Creek The Burgdorf- French Creek Road will be graveled for about five miles, and two cross drain culverts from Burgdorf Hot Springs to the junction with the Carey Creek Road will be installed. The road may be closed for up to four hours at a time Mondays through Wednesdays. GOOSE LAKE ROAD The Goose Lake Road will be graveled for about 1.1 miles beginning 1 /2 mile from the junction with Brundage Mountain Resort to Clow Point. Thunder Mountain Road The Thunder Mountain Road will have widening work done to restore safe full-sized vehicle access across about a 50-foot long portion of road adjacent to Monumental Creek. The repairs consist of the stream bank slop being restored along a damaged section. The work is planned for mid -August to late September, and the road will be closed for up to two weeks during the repair. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 7/18/2013 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 To Close or Not To Close Crapo spurs sides to agree on roads near Yellow Pine "We felt there was too little conversation about who gets to use the roads and who doesn't." —Gordon Cruickshank BY DAN GALLAGHER for The Star -News A broad -based group visited the rugged Big Creek area of Valley County last week to see if they can ensure public access while protecting the headwaters of imperiled fish. The Big Creek -Yellow Pine collaborative committee was formed last December when years of argument and litigation convinced U.S. Sen. Mike Cram R-idaho, that bringing all sides together might resolve the situation. The Payette National Forest updated its plan for the area in 2008 that called for closing many non - forest roads. The Payette was concemed about a lack of management or maintenance, allowing for deterioration and sediment in the creeks. Yellow Pine residents and recreationists unsuccessfully challenged these road closures, and Valley County enjoined in that action. "We felt there was too little conversation about who gets to use the roads and who doesn't," Valley County Commission Chair Gordon Cruickshank said. "Sen. Crapo decided that maybe before this thing all boils over and we get into a big lawsuit, why don't we sit down and see if we can't get the individuals together," Cruickshank said. Attending the tour, which was done on ATVs, included Cruickshank, Krassel District Ranger Anthony Botello, mining claims holder Conway Ivy, local property owner Chris Schwarzhoff, employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, fisheries experts for the Nez Perce Tribe and Midas Gold employees. Spires and Creeks The ride took in vistas including rocky mountain spires, creeks that are habitat for imperiled bull trout and Chinook salmon, historic mining routes and an old summer trail for Nez Perce bands, and popular access for ATVs and hunters. Smith Creek was a small stream on the tour that typifies the reasons the various factions have been unable to agree on the future of the Big Creek area or much of Idaho's backcountry. The creek has plentiful shade, valuable habitat for endangered fish, including bull trout. But traffic on an old road near the McRae Mine uses a wooden ford over the creek that has crumbled. Ivy holds mining claims there and said he is guaranteed reasonable access to those deposits under federal law. Farther downhill, streamlels have cut across the Smith Creek trail, so recreational traffic knocks sediment into the water. Tour members stopped to discuss fixes for the stream. "Big Creek fish are wild fish and this is a genetic stronghold for them," said Wesley Keller with the Nez Perce Tribe. Schwarzhoff owns a home at Big Creek and enjoys riding ATVs and snowmobiles there year-round. He favors good roads for access and as possible escape routes if a forest fire endangered local properties. "Valley County roads have long been arterial routes and were tumed over (by the Forest Service) to the county in 2005," he said. "In the opinion of residents here, the roads here have never been in as good a shape." The Payette has thousands of miles of roads to consider and the Smith Creek trail is only about six miles, Botello said. But it is a priority area for the department and there once was possible funding to put an ATV bridge across the stream that could accommodate full-sized vehicles, he said. Culverts could fix the smaller stream crossings. While a bridge would be expensive for one department and take time to accomplish, pooling everyone's resources and continuing the effort year to year could produce results, Cruickshank told the tour. The collaborative group wants to send its recommendations to the Forest Service by Thanksgiving, although it reduced its focus to Government, Logan and Smith Creeks, Cruickshank said http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/22/2013 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 2 Payette forest to build new headquarters on Mission Street Work will begin this fall on a new headquarters building for the Payette National Forest, to be located where current Payette forest offices are located along Mission Street in McCall. The Forest Service has awarded a $3.5 million contract to Kreizenbeck Constructors of Boise for the construction of the new 13,500-square-foot Supervisor's Office. The building will be buitt on the site of the former McCall Smokejumper Base on Mission Street next to the existing Kress& District office. The former smokejumper building, built in 1958, will be removed. &aE wme, Pay.N at Sketch shows the new Payette National Forest Supervisor's Budding to he constructed along hhsaon Street where the Payette currently has offices The project will be funded with a mix of Payette and Intermountain Region funds from facilities and construction programs. "This site has a storied history for the Forest, and we are glad to be keeping that tradition alive," Payette Forest Supervisor Keith Lannom said. The new building will be placed on Forest Service land and be owned by the Forest Service to reduce costs over leasing buildings, a news release said. The current Supervisor's Office building on Lakeside Avenue is leased until 2016. The lease costs $347,000 per year for the building, which was finished in 1995. "Our current office originally housed 158 employees and has approximately 22,000 square feet of office space," Lannom said. "However, our current number of employees is approximately 60 which makes the building too large for our needs and has many vacant offices," he said. Savings will also be realized by sharing common spaces such as break rooms, conference rooms, mail rooms, and office equipment. Krassel to Expand A separate contract will expand the existing Krassel District Office, which originally housed the kitchen for the smokejumper base. The building is 3,000 square feet and is too small to accommodate the entire distrid staff. The addition to the Krassel District Office will be about 1,060 square feet, which will allow for all district employees to be housed in the same building. The former smokejumper building will be removed in late August or early September and work on the new construction wilt start this fall and last through next summer. The McCall District office, located at the comer of Lake and Mission Streets, will remain at that site. "Relocation of the McCall District office had been talked about in the past, but is not a part of the planned construction,' Lannom said. "We have a desire to maintain the easily accessible and highly public used McCall District office along Lake Street." The trees along Mather Road and in the back lot will remain in place, the news release said. The project is not subject to McCall's planning and zoning regulations since federal projects are exempt from that process, McCall Community Development Director Michelle Groenevelt said. A June letter from the city to the Payette outlined a series of requests for water and sewer lines, sidewalks, landscaping and parking. The Payette agreed to the water and sewer work, but will not comply with the city's request to build sidewalks along Mission Street. "A sidewalk along the westem side of Mission Street will not be constructed under this project as it seems a small piece of new sidewalk that would not join with any existing sidewalks would not be in keeping with the natural, or the current, environment along Mission Street," a statement from the Payette said. Landscaping Request Denied The Payette also will not comply with the city's request to install landscaping to screen the new building and parking from Mission Street. °This land is Forest Service owned and is a part of the Payette National Forest," the Payette statement said. "As such, we have a strong interest in keeping the surroundings as natural as possible " The city also wants all parking to be behind or next to the new building, but the Payette said federal requirements call for putting handicapped parking in front of the building for easier access. The land was originally acquired by the Forest Service in 1935 and used as a tree nursery. In 1943, with the creation of the McCall smokejumper program, the site housed the original smokejumper base known as the McCall Aerial Protection Unit, which then in 1947 became a full- fledged smokejumper training facility. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/22/2013 This week's front page stories Page 2 of 2 The facility was moved to its current location at the McCall Airport in 1988. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/22/2013 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 FIRE DESTROYS HELITACK BUILDING Fiato mute. Pmtm Nwlma rem Photo shows the remains of the Krassel Hehtak Building on the Payette National Poest that was destroyed by fire Satin* mornmg The fur was discovered about -.2o a m. Sattaday at the building, which is part of the Krassel Work Center located along the South Fork Salmon River Road east of McCall The buildmg, built m larb, housed the Kuissel Hehtak offices, ready room, and served as a fire cache Equipment computers and radios stared in the balding were lost but uo one was mitred. McCall Fne Q EMS sent three firefighters to the scene to assist in waMgg the site safe and to nr eshgste the cause. witch is sheeted to be electrical, C7nef Mark &Enure Bard. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 9/26/2013 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Payette to hold open house Tuesday on snowmobile ban An open house on the latest proposed ban on snowmobiles on Granite Mountain will be held Tuesday in McCall. The open house will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Payette National Forest's Supervisor's Office at 800 W. Lakeside Ave. behind Lardo Grill and Saloon. The open house was originally scheduled for Oct. 2, but was postponed to the temporary shutdown of many federal govemment offices nationwide that started Oct. 1. The Payette is proposing to close about 4,730 acres on Granite Mountain to snowmobiles for the third year in a row, from Jan. 15 through March 3, to reserve the area for backcountry skiers. Granite Mountain is located northwest of Brundage Mountain Resort. "We feel the special order has been successful," said Jane Cropp, forest recreation program manager. "Comments from snowmobilers during visits to parking lots indicated that this closure has not negatively affected their experiences or use on the Payette," Cropp said. The McCall Ranger District will take comments until Nov. 1. Submit comments to Susan Jenkins, McCall District recreation specialist, at 634-0415 or Lisa Klinger, McCall District Ranger, at 634-0401 or by mail to the McCall Ranger District, 102 West Lake St., McCall, ID 83638. Pin earl.' McColl ripe Shan fhb SKATERS PO WELL INT ottA-The McCall Rpm. Skating Club made a good showing to the non-quaLfynig pomon of the Northwest Pacific Regional Ftgme Skating Competition in Tacoma, Wash , earlier tins mouth Skating m the Non -Test Nance event Abby- Robuett and Reagan Wiese. SS'S, took second place with their program. " N'e Love to BoogiePaige Robnett, Sl'l', skated at Prehmi aty to Ibehn' Besides taking fist }dace m her group of seven skaters, Robuett also had the highest SCOW' Of all aJ Ati mu nuy Level guts http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 10/24/2013 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Field trip Monday to view Lost Creek -Boulder Creek forest project A public field trip will be held Monday to tour the proposed Lost -Creek Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project near New Meadows. The tour will start at 10 a.m. Monday from the News Meadows Ranger District Office in New Meadows and last until 3 p.m. Attendees should bong a lunch, boots end appropriate clothing for a day in the forest. Carpooling is encouraged. The project would take in about 80,000 acres on the New Meadows district about 10 miles northwest of New Meadows. About 40,000 acres within the project would see timber harvest and thinning, with about 45,000 acres of controlled burning, road closures and obliterations, improved fish passages and recreation improvements. The project intends to improve forest heakh and upgrade the Boulder Creek watershed from "impaired" to "functioning at risk," a news release said, The proposed project is a part of the Payette National Forest's Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program that was developed in part with the assistance of the Payette Forest Coalition. Call Project Lead Holly Hutchinson at 347-0300 for additional information, or visit the project webpage at www.fs.usda.gov. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 10/31 /2013 The Star News Public Lands Page Page 1 of 1 Dec. 5 New Meadows meeting set on Payette forest project A public meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, in New Meadows on a proposed Payette National Forest project that would cover 80,000 acres. The meeting on the proposed Lost Creek -Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 5 at the New Meadows District Office. The project area is located northwest of New Meadows in Adams County. About 40,000 acres of the 80,000 acres studied would see work performed. The Payette proposal includes tree thinning, timber harvest, and controlled burning. Recreation improvements would include designation of dispersed camping sites, new ATV trails and improvement of existing trails, and installation of restrooms near Lost Creek Reservoir. The project also proposes closing and obliterating roads, improving fish passage improving connections along more than 57 miles of streams. Initial public review of the Lost Creek -Boulder Creek proposal was done in March, and the Payette based its proposal on public comments as well as intemal review. The project was recommended by the Payette Forest Coalition, a collaborative group started in 2009. Coalition members represent the environmental community, forestry groups, the timber industry, recreational groups, and local and state government agencies. Meetings and field trips were conducted in 2011 and 2012 that resulted in the recommendation. The project is intended to restore ponderosa pine forests, reduce wildfire risk, and improve the economic conditions of the local economy. Other projects of the coalition include the Mill Creek -Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project, now underway, and the Middle Fork Weiser River Landscape Restoration Project, now in the early planning stages. Hard copies and CDs of the Lost Creek -Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project are available at the New Meadows Ranger District office and the Payette Supervisor's Office in McCall. For information, contact Holly Hutchinson at 347-0325. Comments on the project will be taken through mid -December before a final plan is issued. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/public_lands_page.php 11 /21 /2013 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Payette forest offers digital snowmobile, travel maps The Payette National Forest now offers access to its snowmobile trail maps and summer travel maps for mobile Android and i0S devices. "This mobile app makes it easier than ever to plan your visit to the forest," Forest Supervisor Keith Lannom said. "By putting important forest information right at your fingertips, it will encourage more people to get outside and explore." The digital maps are part of an effort create a paperless govemment that also provides the public with better and more accessible information. The maps are a free download from iTunes and the Android Play Store. The maps are geo-referenced with the users location appearing as a blue dot. Users can mark their location when a GPS signal is available, and can use features such as measuring distance and area, find coordinates, open a current view in Google maps, plot place marks, and add notes and photos. In areas were a GPS signal is not available, the maps still work well as a quick reference as long as the maps were downloaded before entering the forest. Paper maps are still available at Payette offices and can be downloaded from www.fs usda.gov/goto/payette/maps http://www.mecallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 2/6/2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 New Payette forest headquarters has energy savings built in HQ on Mission Street to open this summer BY KYLA SAWYER for The Star -News When Will Perry talks about the green aspects of McCall's new Payette Notional Forest Supervisurs Office, he isn't referring to the pickle -colored uniforms of its employees. "We're striving for two Green Globes as defined by the Green Building Initiative," Perry, an engineer with the Payette National Forest said. "It requires us construct the building to improve energy usage and environmental performance." At an estimated construction cost of $3.5 million, the 13,500 square foot building on Mission Street features high wood beam ceilings in the main lobby and wood frame construction, Payette public affairs officer Brian Harris said. "It fits with the character of McCall and the fact that we are the Forest Service and in the business of trees and lumber too," Harris said. Low -flow plumbing fixtures will conserve an estimated 30 percent below typical water use for an office building of this size built to house 50 to 70 employees. Motion censor lights detect when a room is occupied and will help reduce electricity usage. And light shelves are also being installed to help direct natural light in to the building's interior, Perry said. The building has about 100 windows that employees can actually open in the summertime, which is unusual for a federal building, Perry said. "It was part of the design process to get the natural light that's better for the working environment," he said. A geothermal loop, which uses the latent heat in the earth, will he used to heat end cool the entire building. Ten, 400-foot deep wells were oonstruoted to run wete heating and cooling systems. Photo for The Sta-Nea" Uy Kyle St.Tv Will Penr', &vw limns mni Wayne Helsel Inspect 'the progress of the uew Payette Nattoual Forest Supetcuuts Office ou Shassou Sweet m McCall through for the This innovative technology will help the Forest Service conserve energy, Payette contracting officer representative Wayne Hersel said. "We're mandated to reduce our footprint, reduce our energy usage and use green products," Hersel said. Specific energy -savings for insulation, lighting designed to preserve the night sky and native landscaping to optimize water use are also part of the building's design to meet the green building requirements, Hersel and Perry said. Although the target move -in date isn't until August, employees are already getting excited, Harris said. "We've already started cleaning out closets and extra equipment," Harris said. Back To Index/Menu http://www.mecallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 2/20/2014 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Slide blocks popular Big Creek Trail into wilderness A 600-foot wide slide has blocked the popular Big Creek Trail leading into the Frank Church River of No Retum Wildemess The slide, which happened this spring, is about one mile downstream and east of the Big Creek Trailhead. The Big Creek Trail is the main access into the Frank Church wilderness from the west, with an estimated 1,200 people using the trail each summer on foot and horseback. ATVs and other motorized vehicles are not allowed in the wilderness. Until the slide is cleared, visitors are recommended to enter from the east side of the wilderness using the Middle Fork of the Salmon River Trail into lower Big Creek. Access into Chamberlain Basin via Mosquito Ridge or Pueblo Summit will be available once more snow melts, a news release said For questions, call the Krassel Ranger District at 634- 0600. • mow" +I• @eb cot., Payne NaM Fwa Photo shows debris from a slide blocking the popular Big Creek Trail into the Frank Church wilderness. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 7/3/2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Fire restrictions put into place for most locations Land managers on Tuesday imposed a ban on most campfires and other buming due to the high wildfire dangers in the west central mountains of Idaho. Under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, these acts are prohibited: • Building a fire, campfire, or stove fire on public lands except within a designated recreation site in an approved structure. Campfires can still be built on private land. • Smoking, except in a closed vehicle, building or recreation site, or in area cleared of flammable materials three feet in diameter. Here are exemptions to the ban: • All land within a city. • Persons using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels. • Persons with a written permit or within designated areas. For questions, call the Payette National Forest office in McCall at 634-0400. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/7/2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Storm King Remembered Payette staffers gather on 20th anniversary of blaze that killed 2 smokejumpers "Twenty years ago the attitude was if you were a crew member, you didn't have a voice." — Gary Brown BY KYLA SAWYER for The Star -News Payette National Forest empbyees gathered on Sunday to remember two of their own who died in a Colorado wildfire 20 years ago. A lunchtime barbecue at the McCall Smokejumper Base was held on the same day in 1994 that McCall smokejumpers Jim Thrash and Roger Roth died in the Storm King Fire Mountain near Glenwood Springs, Cob. Fourteen people, including members of the Prineville, Ore., hot -shots, two helitack crew members and Missoula smokejumper Don Mackey were killed when flames overran their attempts to outrun the blaze. Sunday's gathering was even more somber because it came just a few days after the one-year anniversary of the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona that killed 19 firefighters on June 30, 2013. "The firefighting community is very small," Payette Fire Staff Officer Gary Brown said. "At Yarnell we had a lot of folks that were in the area at that fire and also knew those crew members by name — so both events hit very close to home." Firefighters have spent time reviewing fire safety procedures as well as evaluating mental health practices, Brown said. "Unlike the military, which has plans in place to deal with things like Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder, we're just now figuring out we need to pay attention to this," Brown said. The Forest Service released new training manuals earlier this year specifically addressing how to prepare and deal with job -related stress. A booklet on handling traumatic events also was issued to help employees better understand the grieving process, Brown said. "We also teach in our refresher classes what fatality fires have occurred so that we can learn from them," Brown said. Human Mistakes Nearly 100 recommendations resulted from the Storm King Fire investigation that saw major changes in how firefighters operate. Two of the most important issues have changed they way firefighters look at their job, Brown said. "As humans we are prone to mistakes and so we now design our systems with redundancy with looking at safety zones, changes in weather, etc., more double-checks to attempt to avoid a catastrophic disaster," Brown said. The role of leadership and the chain of command mindset on fires has also undergone serious review, he said. "Twenty years ago the attitude was if you were a crew member, you didn't have a voice, you did what your superiors told you and now that's not the case," Brown said. "Now we are all looking out for each other and we teach all of our firefighters to speak up," he said. Public perception about how wildfires should be fought has also come under scrutiny since the Storm King Mountain and the Yarnell fires. "In some ways I think we've been too successful," Brown said. "The expectation of the public is that we can put out any fire, any time and that's not always the case," he said. "There are some situations when we do back off because it's an unsafe area for firefighters to just go in hard and put it out." http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/10/2014 The Star News Groups Page Page 1 of 1 Payette forest to move Into new HQ building on Tuesday The Payette National Forest will open its new supervisor's office on Mission Street on Tuesday. The current supervisor's office on Lakeside Avenue will be open for business through today but be closed Friday and Monday for the move. To contact the Payette on Friday or Monday, call the McCall District office at 634-0400 or visit the McCall District office at the corner of Mission and West Lake Streets. "It will be great to be able to serve the public from an office that is modern and located in a place that is easy to find and accessible," Payette Supervisor Keith Lannom said. The $3.48 million building contains 13,500 square feet of space. A separate expansion of the Krassel District Office next door is expected to be complete by Sept. 1. The new supervisor's office is located on the site of the former McCall Smokejumper Base across from McCall - Donnelly High School. "This site has a storied history for the forest and we are glad to be keeping that tradition alive," Lannom said. The land was originally acquired by the Forest Service in 1935 to be used as a tree nursery. In 1943, with the creation of the smokejumper program, the site housed the original smokejumper base, known as the McCall Aerial Protection Unit, which then in 1947 became a full-fledged smokejumper training facility. The Payette will host an open house at the new supervisor's office on Friday, Aug. 29, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Brian Harris at 634-6945. Back ABOUT TOWN Wmm M Cm"I Cook MCCALL ON DISPLAY - America in Bloom judges Jack Clasen and Melanie Riggs, left, talk about the Positive Outdoor Teen Service Project with participants Garrett Speer of Cascade, Tucker Totter of Donnelly and advisor Syhia Ryan on Monday at the Central Idaho Historical Museum in McCall. The judges toured McCall on Monday and Tuesday to see how McCall stacks up against three other cities of populated 3,5oo and below entered in the national contest. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MCCALL - Sophie Canner, 7, and Jackson Canner, 3, from Lewiston, enjoy cupcakes handed out on Saturday at Centennial Park in downtown McCall as part of the city of McCall's to3rd birthday celebration. The party was put on by the McCall Historic Preservation Commission. http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/groups_page.php 7/24/2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Ready 8 Waiting Payette forest has firefighters, gear in place for summer wildfires BY KYLA SAWYER for The Star -News With an army of nearly 250 firefighters and an arsenal of aircraft and fire engines, the Payette National Forest is ready for almost anything Mother Nature can dish out. The Payette devotes $10 million, or half of its annual budget, to fighting wildfires, Payette Fire Staff Officer Gary Brown said. "We can safely handle 12 to 15 fires on the forest," Brown said. "We're seeing fewer fires, but those fires are getting larger." The Payette saw 189 fires started by one storm during 1989, one of its biggest fire seasons on record. Last year the forest recorded 90 fires, Brown said. At the ready are 72 smokejumpers at the McCall Smokejumper Base and 13 firefighters staffed at the forest's 13 lookouts. Photo foss The Stu -Neon by Kyle S. ,: Karin Knell takes stock of backpack pumps at the Payette National Forest fire warehouse in McCall. Backing them up are eight people working the radios at the dispatch center at the McCall Airport and six people moving supplies in and out of the fire warehouse on Mission Street. Those employees are also qualified to drop what they are doing to join a fire crew. More firefighters are stationed in the various ranger districts. The McCall and New Meadows districts are ready with 74 firefighters, three engines and two, one -ton trucks each with a 125 gallon water tank. That number includes 40 firefighters stationed with the Price Valley Helitack Base, where two helicopters can be quickly dispatched to drop people onto a blaze. The Krassel district has 22 firefighters, a dozen of which work at the Krassel Helitack Base with its two helicopters. Forty firefighters are stationed on the Council and Weiser districts with four engines and two, one -ton trucks with water tanks. Aerial Fleet Back at the McCall Airport, there are three smokejumper planes, a plane for aerial coordination and two single -engine air tankers, one equipped with pontoons, that can drop fire retardant or water on a fire. Technology also plays a vital role in how forest fires are fought. Tablets, cell phones, and wireless Internet instantly send photographs and video of a fire from the air or ground to fire managers. Equipment and technology are not a substitute for actual firefighting experience, Brown said. 'These are just tools to help us interpret what course of action to take," he said. "We want our fire fighters to be focused on what's around them and maintain situational awareness at all times http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/31 /2014 The Star News Groups Page Page 1 of 1 following the event. Moto for the Star -Nees 6y M+t Mak NEW DIGS - Payette Na ional.ForestSupervisor Keith l annom unpacks boxes at the new supervisors office on Mission Street on Monday. The $348 million building, owned by the Forest Service, contains 13,5oo square feet of space and replaces the current leased space on Lakeside Avenue. The Payette will host an open house on Friday, Aug. 29, from 2 p.m. to 4:3o p.m. http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/groups_page.php 7/31 /2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Campfire restrictions lifted; 23 new fires set Restrictions on campfires will be lifted at midnight Friday due to rain and more favorable weather, the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association said, "While the rain has helped reduce the immediate fire danger it is still August and plenty of fire season remains so we will continue to ask everyone to remain cautious with their fires," Chief Fire Warden Mark Woods said. However, SITPA will not resume issuing permits for open burning, Woods said. Meanwhile, the Payette National Forest found 23 new fires on Tuesday and Wednesday, a news release said Firefighters have been able to keep the blazes small. Seven of the fires were contained as of noon Wednesday while 11 were being worked on and five were being watched, the release said. "Resources have been readily available and we have not reached a point of being short on staffing needs," Payette National Forest Fire Management Officer Gary Brown said. http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/14/2014 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 No Facebook, No Problem Guard stations offer unique vacation getaway BY KYLA SAWYER for The Star -News Tristan Harris didn't seem to mind that her weekend getaway at the Paddy Flat Guard Station didn't offer Internet or cellphone service. "I really like it," said Harris, 18 of Boise. "It makes you socialize and visit rather than feel this need to be on your phone." Located about 25 miles southeast of McCall, Paddy Flat is one of two guard stations available for rent by the Payette National Forest. Also available for rent is the Lake Fork Guard Station seven miles east of McCall. At a cost of $75 per day, families and groups can make reservations online similar to booking a hotel, Payette Public Affairs Officer Brian Harris said. "Having the guard stations available for rent helps us to preserve these historical sites as well," Harris said. "The monies generated stay here to help us maintain these buildings otherwise they many go in to disrepair and be sold off." Guard stations were originally constructed to house forest service employees and a ranger in a central base. From the guard stations, workers could go out to perform trail maintenance, patrol or fight fires. The Paddy Flat station was buifi in 1919, when transportation was limited to mostly horseback and there were Moms for The Sur NevaM Ky St., TOP:, Kristi Kortanta-Harris of Boise makes use of the Paddy Flat Guard Station kitchen during a recent reunion for family and friends. ABOVE:, the Paddy Flat Guard Station southeast of Lake Fork. no radios or telephones. The Lake Fork Guard station's cabin was originally built in 1933 by Civilian Conservation Corps workers and was remodeled in 2011. Paddy Flat includes several historical buildings and offers a corral and meadow for horses. Both offer running water, and electricity is available from generators, Harris said. For many vacationers the lure to get away from it all is well worth the drive. "It's a great spot for a weekend get together," Clyde Powell, Jr., 51 of Kuna said of the Paddy Flat station. "I love it because you're not on a main road and it's peaceful and quiet." Reservations for the Paddy Flat or Lake Fork guard stations can be made online at recreation.gov. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 8/14/2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 When Beavers Flew Forest Service transplanted beavers in 1948 with parachute drops BY KYLA SAWYER for The Star -News Beavers that cut trees and build dams where they are not wanted are considered a nuisance. But in 1948, they were given airplane rides. Rather than kill the nuisance beavers, the post -World War II Forest Service decided to transplant them into the Chamberlain Basin area of what is now the Frank Church River of No Retum Wilderness northeast of McCall. It was thought the beavers could benefit the back country by building dams to create wetlands. And, it was decided to drop them by parachute. "This is stuff you can't make up," Payette National Forest Archaeologist Erik Whiteman said. "Sometimes we hear these anecdotal stories and think honestly, 'that's crazy' and then find out its true." The Idaho Department of Fish and Game worked with the Forest Service to transplant about 76 captured beavers. The problem was, no one had ever dropped a beaver by parachute. So testing was done on various designs of wooden boxes intended to open when they hit the ground. One beaver, nicknamed "Geronimo," became the test beaver for the drop boxes. Photo mmbY du m Depumm drop k Game a m:es & v= NaaooY Face A brave beaver arrives safely in its new home on the Idaho National Forest in a photo taken around 1948. "Geronimo was dropped again and again on the field," F&G officer Elmo W. Neter wrote in his article, "Transplanting Beavers by Airplane and Parachute" in The Journal of Wildlife Management in April 1950. "Each time he (Geronimo) scrambled out of the box someone was on hand to pick him up," Neter wrote. "Poor fellow! He finally became resigned and as soon as we approached him would crawl back Into his box ready to go aloft," he wrote. Geronimo was rewarded by being on board the first plane into the wilderness along with three young female beavers. "His colony was later reported as very well established," Heter wrote. Surplus Parachutes Heter didn't say exactly how he and his colleagues came up with the idea to use parachutes and boxes to transplant the beavers. Using war surplus parachutes from what was then called the Idaho Forest Service, the beavers were placed in 30-inch long boxes that were 16-inches wide and 12-inches deep. Holes were drilled in the boxes for air and sling ropes that kept the box shut when airbome, but safely opened once it rested on the ground. However the right release mechanism for the boxes took some additional research, Neter wrote. "The first box tried had ends made of woven willow," he wrote. "It was thought that, since willows were a beaver's natural food, the animal would gnaw his way to freedom." This method was discarded when it was discovered that beavers might chew their way out of these boxes while still airborne, Heter wrote. Instead a tension -banded box was used that cinched tight from its own weight in the air, but snapped open to let the beavers out once the box reached the ground. Thanks to Geronimo's efforts, conservation officers found that 500 to 800 feet was the ideal beaver - dropping attitude. The estimated cost was about $30 to transplant four beavers. That included $2 for two boxes, $16 for two cargo parachutes and $12 flying time for one plane. Ranchers, Forest Service employees and packers helped to collect the parachutes, Heter wrote. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/21 /2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Group agrees on road closures In Blg Creek area Process designed to preserve access, protect fish BY DAN GALLAGHER for The Star -News A committee has released recommendations on which roads to keep open and which to close in the Big Creek area of Valley County to preserve access and to protect fish. The Payette National Forest has released the recommendations of the group for public comment wth a deadline of Sept. 20. The plan is the result of discussions held by the Big Creek -Yellow Pine Collaborative group since December 2012. 'It's an effort of understanding everyone's wishes and to see if we can all give and take some," Valley County Commission Chair Gordon Cruickshank said. "The end result is to create some recreation access, mining activity access and still protect the habitat for the fish and wildlife out there," Cruickshank said. The collaboration had its roots in the release by the Payette National Forest of a plan that allowed travel only on roads designated on its map, Cruickshank said. Chris and Lois Schwarzhoff of Big Creek, the village of Yellow Pine and miners sued in federal court over the plan. The county also weighed in to keep open routes that were historically open before the national forest system was created. Extensive Debate The meetings included extensive debate as the members pressed for environmental protection, access for snowmobiles or ATVs, or preservation of their business such as mining claims. There are about 36,000 acres in the study area, about three-quarters in designated roadless lands. There are currently 35 miles of road under the county and Forest Service, five miles for ATV and motorcycle use, and about 38 miles designated as "unauthorized" or illegal travel. The latest Forest Service proposal would decommission a mile of Forest Service road and 10 miles of unauthorized tracks, while reconditioning the ground by taking out old culverts, repairing streambeds and protecting the site from erosion. The plan also would designate 10 unauthorized miles under the Forest Service system as trails for off - highway vehicles. Five miles of unauthorized roads would remain open for five years for mineral operations with some rehabilitation done. Valley County would get a road easement for five miles for some improvements to the land. Historical Mining The area has been the location of historical mining back to the 1800s. It also is the home of Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout, all listed as threatened species. "I think collaboratives in general are great mechanisms for people learning to understand each other," said Anne Labelle, a committee member and vice president of Midas Gold Inc., which is exploring for gold at Stibnite. One big part of the proposal is educating visitors, said John Robison, public lands director with the Idaho Conservation League. Getting the word out about available roads and trails through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and other agencies is vital, Robison said. "People who have visited and hunted and fished and camped and boated in the area should review these recommendations and weigh in with their own expertise," Robison said. While the public considers the Big Creek road proposal, the collaborative committee planned to tour the Stibnite and South Fork of the Salmon River areas this week to see if they could apply the same process to roads in those areas, Cruickshank said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 9/4/2014 The Star News Groups Page Page 1 of 1 Ibro W The Sea-Nm+ar Van Moe. GRAND TOUR - Polly Heim from McCall gets a tour on Friday from Mickey Fillers of the newly opened supervisors office of the Payette National Forest. The 13,500 square foot budding on Mission Street cost S3.48 million but mill save the Forest Service S35o,000 per year in rent previously paid for its former leased office on Lakeside Avenue. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/groups_page.php 9/4/2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Abandoned campfire caused Sept. 6 White Cloud Fire An abandoned campfire was the cause of the Sept. 6 White Cloud Fire that bumed 63 acres on the south side of McCall and put a scare into dozens of nearby residents, a fire official said this week. It not known who set the fire, and an investigation remains open, said Mark Woods, chief fire warden of the Southem Idaho Timber Protective Association Anyone who may have seen people near the cul-de-sac at the north end of Haymaker Place in the White Cloud subdivision the night before the fire or the morning before it flared up should contact Woods at 634-9658 or mwoods@sitpa.idaho.gov. The fire moved from dried grass and sagebrush into trees causing the tops of trees to explode in flames and throwing out embers that set more fires ahead of the main blaze. More than 50 firefighters from SITPA and the Payette National Forest battled the blaze with help from helicopters dropping buckets of water on the flames and a single -engine air tanker dropping fire retardant ahead of their path. The flames were stopped several hundred yards from two homes on Chris Lane that were closest to the edge of the fire. Firefighters stayed on the scene for the next four days to be sure any smoldering trees or brush did not flare up. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 10/2/2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Fighting Fire From Afar Remote blaze means long-distance tactics BY KYLA SAWYER for The Star -News The Freezeout Ridge Fire is buming in a place perfect for wildlife and hunters, but miserable for fire crews. That makes fighting the blaze complicated and expensive. The fire, located in Hells Canyon located about 11 miles southwest of Riggins, had grown by Wednesday to 3,600 acres after starting Sept. 6 from an unknown cause Just two dozen people were assigned to the fire as of Wednesday, but last week about 200 firefighters were assigned to try to contain it. Unlike most wildland fires, there is no road access for crews to the area and the rugged terrain of Hells Canyon has meant staging helicopter to ferry crews near Zim's Hot Springs north of New Meadows. The average cost of the fire was running about $225,000 per day last week, Operations Section Chief Brook Chadwick said. "It's been challenging for sure because everything is aviation based," Chadwick said. Hoe by US Fed. Snvice A firefighter watches as a helicopter lifts off near New Meadows last week carrying crew members to the remote Freemom Ridge Fire near Riggins. "We're dependent upon aviation to see the entire fire, to fly crews out there and support those crews." Corralling the Flames The Freezeout Ridge Fire is also almost exclusively in a wilderness area. While some fire is considered good for the forest, crews must make sure the blaze doesn't burn toward ranches or rural homes or put prized hunting areas at risk, Chadwick said. The main camp for the fire was located near the Evergreen Forest sawmill south of New Meadows. Larger than a small town, the camp was complete with bathrooms, showers, food, communications, and places to get fire retardant clothing, parts for chainsaws and essentials such as lip balm or sunscreen. "Our primary function is to make sure the firefighters get everything that they need," said Facilities Unit Leader Ted Hienricks. Things have changed over the years, including providing wireless Internet for everything from ordering supplies to keeping in touch with family members. "It used to be we were gone for 21 days and you were lucky to even then get a phone call," Hienricks said. The choice to leave family is made easier because of the friends made in the fire camps, Vista Grande Hotshot firefighter Johnny Vargas said. "It's always a sacrifice being away from family and a consideration you take before getting into this job," said Vargas, 34. "However, my wife knew what she was getting into." For Payette National Forest firefighter Carolyn Warden, getting called out to work on the Freezeout Ridge Fire was just another day on the job. "I take it one fire at a time," said Warden, 37, of McCall, an engine captain on the McCall District. "It's a great experience, but when it starts to get cold I do think it would be great to be curled up at home with my dog," Warden said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 10/2/2014 Star -News News Page Lead Story Page 1 of 2 Payette forest ready to allow gold drilling in wilderness Golden Nand world see roads, motorized equipment BY TOM GROTE The Star -News The Payette National Forest is in the final stages of allowing exploration for gold on mining claims located inside the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. The draft decision to allow owners of the Golden Hand claims to do exploratory drilling will be published in the Federal Register on Friday. Comments will be taken through Feb. 23 with final approval expected by mid -March, Payette Public Affair Officer Brian Harris said. The Golden Hand mining claims are located on about 300 acres a mile inside the Frank Church wilderness 19 miles north of Yellow Pine. The claims are about five miles north of the popular Big Creek trailhead that leads into the wilderness. The proposal is not for extracting gold, but to build 11 drilling pads to collect core samples that would be tested for traces of gold. Such exploration is required by federal law in order for the claims to remain valid. The claim is owned by American Independence Mines and Minerals Company. The principals in the company are Conway and Diane Ivy of Beaufort, S.C., and Jack Walker of Vale, Ore., according to records on file with the Idaho Secretary of State. The claim was established in 1889, long before the 2.3 million acre Frank Church wilderness was designated by Congress in 1980. 11 Map carter Payette Natu,rl ryrel Map shows location of the Golden Hand mining claims inside the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Atea (green line). Under federal law, wilderness is supposed to be free of roads and other signs of humans. A key part of wilderness designation is a ban on all motorized equipment such as chainsaws and ATVs. Concessions Made Allowing mining claims to stay was among the concessions agreed to by proponents of Wilderness Act of 1964 under which the Frank Church wilderness was designated. Aircraft landing strips, jet boaters, river rafters and grazing also were allowed to remain, according to background provided by the Payette. Other federal laws, including the 1872 Mining Act, allows federal agencies to regulate mining on existing claims but not to prohibit it. The Golden Hand project would see improvements on eight miles of existing roads, including four miles within the wilderness, to allow cars and trucks to haul in people and drilling equipment. "The wilderness user will see physical impacts to the land, motorized and mechanized equipment, and hear noise and could see dust from these machines from July to November for up to three years," the draft decision notice said. Work on the proposal has been going on since 2007, when AIMMCO said it wanted to explore the claims. An environmental study by the Forest Service on the project was released in 2012 and drew about 20,000 comments, most of which requested the Forest Service to deny the proposal because of its effects on the wilderness. The proposed decision by the Payette contains detailed instructions on how the miners are to conduct operations, including limiting traffic to no more than 571 trips. Specific work on road improvements is outlined, include the types of materials for the roadbed, drainage, and repairs on road sections as short as 50 feet. The proposal also says firewood cannot be cut inside the wildemess, but must be brought in. The most detailed rules would be placed on the hauling of fuel to power the drilling rigs from Cascade to the claim site. No more than 500 gallons of fuel at a time could be hauled, and the hauler would be required to notify the Forest Service and the Valley County Sheriffs Office at least two days in advance. Check The Weather A meeting would be required with those hauling the fuel to review weather, speed, driver fatigue and road conditions and what to do in case there is an accident or fuel spill. Radios and satellite telephones would be required, road signs would be set up and absorbent booms http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 12/31 /2014 Star -News News Page_Lead Story Page 2 of 2 and other equipment for cleaning up spills would be placed along the route At the claim site, steps would be required to ensure nearby Coin Creek is not muddied by drawing water for exploration. If a fish that is on the federal endangered species list is caught, hurt or killed, the fish must be "identified, counted, and recorded," according to the proposed rules. Equipment allowed at the site could only be from a detailed list that includes, saws, generators and portable toilets. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 12/31 /2014 Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Payette forest applies to state for recreation grants The Payette National Forest has applied for grants from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation for these projects: • Improvements at Lost Valley Reservoir in Adams County, including four new restrooms, signs for three informational kiosks, gravel to harden camping areas, fire rings, camping signs, fencing, and rock to define recreation sites. Send comments to Jane Cropp at 634-0757 or jcropp@fs.fed.us. • Winter Trail Ranger Program. Winter trail rangers would assist with maintaining trailheads, recreation sites, and parking lots. Rangers would also be responsible for providing education and information on the 291 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in Adams, Idaho and Valley counties. Send comments to Susan Jenkins at 634-0440 or sjenkins02@fs.fed.us - Support the Payette Avalanche Center's educational and technical work, including avalanche awareness education classes, collecting and disseminating avalanche information, and maintaining weather stations. Send comments to Susan Jenkins at 634-0440 or sjenkins02@fs.fed.us. • Re-routing of eight sections of Jackson Creek Trail No. 116 off of Warren Wagon Road. The improved layout and design would reduce damage by moving the trail away from wet areas. Send comments to Andrew Peterson, at 634-0440 or ahpeterson@fs.fed.us. • Place gravel on the Old East Fork Road, a popular area among forest visitors looping between McCall, Warren and Yellow Pine. Send comments to Patti Stieger at 634-0600 or pstieger@fs.fed.us. • Trail maintenance in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and non -motorized trails in the South Fork Salmon River area. Send comments to Patti Stieger at 634-0600 or pstieger@fs.fed.us. • Rehabilitation of Limepoint Creek Trail No. 224 in Adams County between Hells Canyon and Kleinschmidt Grade. Planned improvements include restoring trail tread and slides, stopping erosion, improving drainage and extensive brush cutting. Send comments to Jascha Zeitlin at (208) 549-4200 orpeitlin02@fs.fed.us. • Installation of a Vail bridge near the beginning of the Deseret Cabin Trail No. 201 on Council Mountain crossing a tributary of the East Fork of the Weiser River where the crossing is difficult. Send comments to Jascha Zeitlin at (208) 549-4200 orjzeitlin02@fs.fed.us. http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/outdoors_page.php 12/31 /2014 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Payette forest to start over on Golden Hand claims objection period The Payette National Forest is restarting the objection period on a proposal to do exploratory mining inside the Frank Church River of No Retum Wildemess. The action involves the Golden Hand mining claims located on about 300 acres a mile inside the Frank Church wildemess 19 miles north of Yellow Pine. The claims are about five miles north of the popular Big Creek trailhead that leads into the wildemess. The Payette forest has been told that confusion exists whether the Forest Service is requesting comments on the project, or entering Into the legal period for objection on the project, forest Supervisor Keith Lannom said. "We are at the objection process stage for this project, and to ensure that interested parties are clear on this and have the allotted time afforded by the administrative process, we are publishing a new legal notice re -initiating the objection period," Lannom said. The new objection period began last Friday and will end on March 16. The objection process is the last chance for those with standing to voice their concerns on the draft decision on the Golden Hand proposal, a news release said. The proposal is not for extracting gold, but to build 11 drilling pads to collect core samples that would be tested for traces of gold. Such exploration is required by federal law in order for the claims to remain valid. The claim is owned by American Independence Mines and Minerals Company. The principals in the company are Conway and Diane Ivy of Beaufort, S.C., and Jack Walker of Vale, Ore., according to records on file with the Idaho Secretary of State. The claim was established in 1889, long before the 2.3 million acre Frank Church wilderness was designated by Congress in 1980. Under federal law, wilderness is supposed to be free of roads and other signs of humans. A key part of wilderness designation is a ban on all motorized equipment such as chainsaws and ATVs. Allowing mining claims to stay was among the concessions agreed to by proponents of Wilderness Act of 1964 under which the Frank Church wildemess was designated. Aircraft landing strips, jet boaters, river rafters and grazing also were allowed to remain, according to background provided by the Payette. Other federal laws, including the 1872 Mining Act, allows federal agencies to regulate mining on existing claims but not to prohibit it. The Golden Hand project would see improvements on eight miles of existing roads, including four miles within the wilderness, to allow cars and trucks to haul in people and drilling equipment_ http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories page.php 2/5/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Conservation groups file objection to Golden Hand drilling BY TOM GROTE The Star -News A mining company's plan to deploy bulldozers, dump trucks and drilling rigs inside the Frank Church - River of No Retum Wildemess is "needlessly destructive," according to a group of conservation organizations. Last Friday, the Idaho Conservation League, The Wildemess Society, Earthworks, Friends of the Clearwater, and Wilderness Watch filed joint objections to the Payette National Forest's preliminary decision in December to authorize the owners of the Golden Hand mining claims to do exploratory drilling for gold. The Golden Hand claims are located on about 300 acres one mile inside the Frank Church wilderness 19 miles north of Yellow Pine. The claims are about five miles north of the popular Big Creek trailhead that leads into the wildemess. The proposal is not for extracting gold, but to build 11 drilling pads to collect core samples that would be tested for traces of gold. Such exploration is required by federal law in order for the claims to remain valid. The Payette's decision would also allow drilling operations around the clock and authorize up to 571 motorized vehicle trips into the wilderness each year for three years. "The Frank Church -River of No Retum Wilderness and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River are priceless treasures belonging to the people of Idaho and all Americans," said John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League. "The mining company has many, many less destructive tools available to determine whether these claims are valid that are more appropriate to this special wildemess setting,' Robison said. Celebrations were recently held for the 50th anniversary of the Wildemess Act under which the Frank Church wilderness was established, said Gary Macfarlane of Friends of the Clearwater. "The Forest Service must do a better job in protecting the remarkable character of the this large and amazing wildemess," Macfarlane said. Scaling Back Urged The groups are asking Payette forest Supervisor Keith Lannom to reconsider the scope and scale of exploration to minimize harm to the wilderness, wildlife habitat and other people using the area. The Golden Hand project would see improvements on eight miles of existing roads, including four miles within the wilderness, to allow cars and trucks to haul in people and drilling equipment. The conservation groups want mine workers to be required to walk the four miles in and out of the wilderness instead of riding in on ATVs or trucks. The Golden Hand claim is owned by American Independence Mines and Minerals Company. The principals in the company are Conway and Diane Ivy of Beaufort, S.C., and Jack Walker of Vale, Ore. The claim was established in 1889, long before the 2.3 million acre Frank Church wilderness was designated by Congress in 1980. Under federal law, wilderness is supposed to be free of roads and other signs of humans. A key part of wilderness designation is a ban on all motorized equipment such as chainsaws and ATVs. Allowing mining claims to stay was among the concessions agreed to by proponents of the Wilderness Act. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 3/19/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 ': Photo foe lise S..\ean 4 Guy Env FIRE FOR GOOD - Brandon Becker of New Meadows sets fire to brush on Ecks Flat four miles west of McCall on Monday- The controlled burn was among gq,000 acres to be torched by the Payette National Forest over the past three years as part of the Collaborative Forest landscape Restoration Program. The burning reduces the chance of a wildfire spreading when hot and dry weather comes to the area during the summer. W36 http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/archive_2015/04_30_15_webedition/Copy%20oP/o... i2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 Ready for Mother Nature Local fin: agencies muster manpower, equipment in case of wildfires "There's no snow, so the high country is drying out quicker than it has in the past." —David fining BY KYLA SAWYER for The Star -News David Vining sees the bare peaks on the Payette National Forest as an ominous sign of the summer ahead. "On an average year we still have snow In the high country," said Vining, the active deputy fire staff officer for the Payette. 'Now there's no snow, so that high country is drying out quicker than it has in the past." Despite a rainy May, local fire officials say they are not breathing any easier about this summer's expected wildfire season. "People shouldn't let their guard down," Payette Fire Staff Officer Gary Brown said "We need people to clean up grass and limb trees around their property and don't be complacent - do what you can to be fire wise." A drier -than -normal winter and spring had lined up Idaho for a heavy fire season, but rains in May helped reduce the danger, Brown said. But warm weather over the past week has increased the fire danger to above -normal, Payette Public Affairs Officer Brian Harris said. Fire managers know they only a lightning storm away from being called into action. On Friday, lightning started the Hopper Fire, which bumed 225 acres of grass and sagebrush between Cambridge and Midvale before it was controlled on Wednesday, Harris said. Lightning also started two small fires on Wednesday, one near the Secesh River east of McCall and the other in the Cold Springs area of the Frank Church River of No Retum Wilderness, he said. Ready To Fight Whatever happens, both agencies are ready for whatever Mother Nature delivers. The Payette has about 245 firefighters to cover the forest, which stretches from Weiser on the west to the Frank Church River of No Retum Wildemess on the east. The agency's fire budget of about $10 million includes both air and ground operations. Three planes and about 70 smokejumpers are based at the McCall Airport, although the smokejumper can be dispatched anywhere in the nation as needed. Also based at the McCall airport is a helicopter, a single -engine air tanker and a spotter plane to help coordinate air drops of water and retardant, Brown said. There are two helicopters and 30 firefighters are stationed at Price Valley west of New Meadows, and one helicopter and 12 firefighters are available at the Krassel Work Center located 20 miles east of McCall. On the ground, the Payette has fire engines at Weiser, Council, New Meadows and McCall that can hold up to 750 gallons of water. Two smaller engines that hold about 300 gallons are based at Weiser and Council. McCall and Council also each have their own 10-person fire crew and Krassel has a five -person crew than can be quickly sent to the fire lines. Lookouts Manned Four patrol vehicles capable of hauling 125 gallons of water are also stationed at Weiser, Council, New Meadows and McCall. The Payette also has 13 staffed lookouts throughout the forest, Brown said. The Southem Idaho Timber Protective Association has about 25 employees including two lookouts, four engines at McCall and Cascade, two bulldozers and two water trucks, Fire Warden Mark Woods said. "Our fire suppression and fire preparedness budget combined is about $1.2 million," Woods said. If fires flare up this summer, there is also the option to call for help from outside the area. "At this point, it's wait and see," Woods said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 6/11 /2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Payette to allow gold exploration Inside wilderness Golden Hand claims existed before Frank Church designation BY TOM GROTE The Star -News The Payette National Forest has approved exploration for gold on mining claims located inside the Frank Church River of No Retum Wilderness east of McCall. The decision will allow owners of the Golden Hand claims to do exploratory drilling on about 300 acres a mile inside the Frank Church wilderness 19 miles north of Yellow Pine. The claims are about five miles north of the popular Big Creek trailhead that leads into the wilderness. The proposal is not for extracting gold, but to build 11 drilling pads to collect core samples that would be tested for traces of gold. Such exploration is required by federal law in order for the claims to remain valid. "This work is being approved to ensure that valid rights exist," Payette National Forest Supervisor Keith Lannom said. "To do that, the mining claimant must be allowed to show they have made a discovery." "We know that mining activities in a wildemess area are a contentious issue, but federal mining laws and the Wilderness Act allow for these activities," Lannom said. The claim is owned by American Independence Mines and Minerals Company. The principals in the company are Conway and Diane Ivy of Beaufort, S.C., and Jack Walker of Vale, Ore. The claim was established in 1889, long before the 2.3 million acre Frank Church wildemess was designated by Congress in 1980. Under federal law, wilderness is supposed to be free of roads and other signs of humans. A key part of wilderness designation is a ban on all motorized equipment such as chainsaws and ATVs. But other federal laws, including the 1872 Mining Act, allow federal agencies to regulate mining on existing claims but not to prohibit it. The Golden Hand project will see improvements on eight miles of existing roads, including four miles within the wildemess, to allow cars and trucks to haul in people and drilling equipment. Limited Trips The proposed decision by the Payette contains detailed instructions on how the miners are to conduct operations, including limiting traffic to no more than 571 trips. Specific work on road improvements is outlined, include the types of materials for the roadbed, drainage, and repairs on road sections as short as 50 feet. The most detailed rules would be placed on the hauling of fuel to power the drilling rigs from Cascade to the claim site. No more than 500 gallons of fuel at a time could be hauled, and the hauler would be required to notify the Forest Service and the Valley County Sheriffs Office at least two days in advance. At the claim site, steps would be required to ensure nearby Coin Creek is not muddied by drawing water for exploration. Equipment allowed at the site coudd only be from a detailed list that includes, saws, generators and portable toilets. Lannom said he considered alternatives such as moving people and equipment by helicopter and limiting ground access to people on foot or with stock packs. Allowing vehicles to drive into the claim will be less intrusive than helicopters, and limiting access to foot or pack traffic would not have allowed claim owners to conduct their work, he said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 6/25/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Conservation groups file lawsuit to block Golden Hand project in wilderness Conservationists filed a lawsuit Tuesday against a mining company's plan to deploy bulldozers, dump trucks and drilling rigs inside the Frank Church River of No Return Wildemess, calling the proposed plan needlessly destructive. The lawsuit was filed by the Idaho Conservation League, Earthworks, The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Clearwater and Wildemess Watch. The lawsuit challenges the decision by the Payette National Forest last month to approve the proposal by American Independence Mines and Minerals to conduct additional mineral sampling to validate its Golden Hand mining claims. The claims are inside the Frank Church -River of No Retum Wildemess and in the headwaters of Big Creek, which flows into the Middle Fork of the Salmon River "The mining company, or the Forest Service, could have opted to explore the validity of these claims without the use of heavy machinery, in order to protect this special wilderness setting," said Jonathan Oppenheimer of the Idaho Conservation League. "Instead of scaling back its plans, it went whole hog," said Bonnie Gestring of Earthworks. "The company's proposal is needlessly destructive for this remarkable wildemess area." "The American people would be repulsed if they could experience this place in all its wild grandeur and see for themselves what the Forest Service is allowing to be destroyed," said George Nickas of Wilderness Watch. The Forest Service decision would allow AIMMCO to use of dump trucks, bulldozers and drilling rigs to open roads, clear drill pads and excavate trenches within the wilderness. It would also allow around the clock drilling operations and authorize up to 571 motorized vehicle trips into the wildemess per year for three years. The groups are asking a judge to deny the company's plans and require the Forest Service to go back to the drawing board to limit the amount of drilling, trenching, and motorized activities. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/9/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Payette forest tree to light up nation's Capitol in 2016 Public's help is sought to find the perfect tree to be shipped to D.C. BY KYLA SAWYER for The Star -News Sue Kump looked up at a nearby tree and imagined how it would took in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. "That one Is about 85 feet," said Kump, the tree -measuring specialist for the Payette National Forest, as she looked through a measuring scope. The Payette National Forest has been chosen to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree for 2016 to be placed on the West Front Lawn of the Capitol facing the National Mall. Since 1970, a different national forest has been selected to provide the tree, which is traditionally lit during a ceremony at the beginning of December and remains lit each night though New Year's Day. This is the first time the Payette forest has been chosen for the honor, Payette Public Affairs Officer Brian Harris said. "We have our people looking for trees when they're out and about, but we'd like the public to help us," Harris said. The Capitol tree should be between 65 to 85 feet tall, preferably an Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir or grand fir. Sue Kump, tree measuring specialist for the Payette National Forest, points a laser device at a tree to find out its estimated height. The tree also needs to be in an accessible area, as two cranes and a semi -truck will be used to cut down and lift the tree for transport across the country. "If people are out hiking or backpacking and they find a tree that fits these requirements, please call the forest supervisor's office and give us the GPS coordinates," Harris said. Selection Next Year The Payette will identify a half -dozen candidate trees this year. Next June, the architect of the National Mall Christmas display will come to Idaho to make the final selection, Harris said. In addition to the official Capitol tree, between 60 and 80 other trees between 10 and 20 feet tall also will be sent from Idaho to Washington, D.C., to be displayed in various federal offices. "These can be from anywhere in the state and may be donated from private owners or come from Forest Service land," Harris said. Students from around the state will be asked to make the 4,000 to 5,000 ornaments that will go on trees, Harris said. A tree -cutting ceremony with Idaho congressional members, local leaders, Forest Service personnel and the public will be held in late October or early November 2016. Donations and contributions from other agencies help defer the expenses. The tree will be recycled after the holiday season, Harris said. Idaho's congressional delegation expressed delight at the selection of the Payette to provide the tree. "Being selected to supply the nation's Christmas Tree is a reminder of the great value of our public lands to all of us," said Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. "With the Forest Service seeking public input on the perfect tree, I'll be keeping my eye out and I encourage other Idahoans to do the same," said Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho. The Capitol Christmas Tree should not be confused with the National Christmas Tree, which is a living tree located on the Ellipse near the White House. To suggest a tree to be the Capitol Christmas Tree, contact Harris at bdharris@fs.fed.us or 634-0700. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/6/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 2 Same Scenery, Different Eyes: Coalition tried to find common ground on projects "Our main driver here is its ecological restoration. "—Mac Lefebvre BY DAN GALLAGHER for The Star -News Mac Lefebvre's occupation is to turn trees into lumber. But last week Lefebvre was focused on restoring the health of thousands of acres of the Payette National Forest east of Council. "I think there's a lot of room for making sound ecological decisions and getting the timber out," said Lefebvre, who works for the Idaho Forest Group, a northern Idaho timber company. "Our main driver here is its ecological restoration," he said. "That's the underpinnings of everything we're doing." Lefebvre was part of a group of people from various backgrounds who spent last Friday touring the Middle Fork of the Weiser River. The field trip was organized by the Payette Forest Coalition, which has spent the last six years trying to get industry, recreation and conservation groups to agree on forest management. The Middle Fork area toured on Friday would be part of the third comprehensive management project covering large swaths of the forest. • NW , FlBcdo a.>ti sm-n"". by nmc me Mary Bresee with the Payette National Forest shows private forester Irene Jerome and Wendy Green with Adams Soil and Water Conservation District how lodgepole pines are encroaching on some upper meadows along the Middle Fork Weiser River during a tour last Friday by the Payette Forest Coalition. The areas area called Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Projects, and the Middle Fork plan would cover about 50,000 acres, of which about 30,000 would be on the Payette and about 20,000 acres are owned by Potlatch Corp. The proposed project area stretches from high -elevation slopes at No Business Lookout to meadows where the river empties into rangeland near Council. The Payette Forest Coalition includes conservationists, private foresters, recreation advocates and county officials as well as ordinary citizens. First -Hand Knowledge "What's helpful with this is getting on the ground and seeing it first-hand," said John Robison with the Idaho Conservation League who is a member of the coalition. "You figure out what your alternatives are and what options, and then figure out what is the art of the possible," Robison said. The tour's first stop near Squaw Flat on the northem side of the project took in the Payette's suggestion for three miles of new off -road trail in that area. "There's a lot of push from the motorized community to want to open up some more opportunities for UTVs," said Jane Cropp, the Payette's recreation staff officer. The Payette will propose several altematives, which may close some trails to off -road vehicles, or reopen some places where off -road vehicles are now banned. There are about 100 miles of year-round or seasonal federal and county roads inside the Middle Fork project. Another proposal would create 20 more tumouts along the roads so campers have more places to pitch a tent, Cropp said. Lynx Homeland Another stop on Friday's tour took In a high -elevation "potential vegetation group" near No Business Mountain. That spot would be beneficial for the Canada lynx and the snowshoe hares they feed on because of the deadfall and tree mix, Payette wildlife biologist Jon Almack said. That area and others could be improved by removing some subalpine fir or diseased lodgepole pine while leaving large Douglas fir or other species, said Mary Bresee, a Payette forester. The work would help the area withstand an intense fire or allow aspen trees to flourish, Bresee said. Large trees could be removed for lumber, smaller trees could be thinned, more room could be made for aspen, and marshes could be restored on as many as 22,000 acres, the group was told. Controlled fires also could be set to burn out undergrowth. Another proposal would log up to 370 acres of timber breaks to help control large fires and protect areas such as Tamarack Resort to the east. The collaborative process has already shown results. Timber sales awarded since 2012 for the Mill http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 142015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 2 of 2 Creek -Council Mountain project prompted Evergreen Forest near New Meadows to add a second shift at its sawmill. However, the second project in the process, the 80,000 acre Lost Creek -Boulder Creek project, was not as well received. In June, The Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Idaho Sporting Congress and Native Ecosystems Council sued the Forest Service in federal court to halt the project, saying it violated regulations because of insufficient analysis of its effects. A study of the Middle Fork project will likely be published in December, followed by a 45-day comment period to determine if any more altematives crop up, said Greg Lesch, the ranger for the Payette's Council and Weiser districts. Members of the Payette Forest Coalition may come up with their own alternative, which will carry weight in the outcome, Payette Public Affairs Officer Brian Harris said. "The great thing is to get every interest group to the table and work it out together," Harris said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 11 /14/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 4 Lead Story Main News Opinion Arts/Events Outdoors/Rec Sports/Schools Of Record Groups Info Desk Announcements Public Notices Current Edition McCall, ID 19 of Overcast at NMI PM W CM, for Forecast MAIN NEWS—THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015 Forest Service wants to close 250 miles of roads Old logging roads in Valley ('ounty gel Bide use '9r's kind oJ'ihe low -hanging fruit. " Jake Strohmeyer BY DAN GALLAGHER for The Star -News The Forest Service is considering how many miles of little used logging roads should be dosed in Valley County. Many of the roads on the Payette National Forest and the Cascade Ranger District of the Boise National Forest can be closed without causing inconvenience to forest users while protecting the environment, according to federal officials. Valley County commissioners recently got a preview of the roads analyzed for possible closure, of which about 250 miles are on the entire Payette forest and about 55 miles are on the Cascade district. The roads vary in length from one -tenth of a mile to about three miles and are scattered throughout the two forests. Some roads have not been used for years, said Jake Strohmeyer, a staff officer with the Payette forest. Others are redundant as several segments reach the same destination, Strohmeyer said. Some of the targeted roads pose an environmental risk if trucks or ATVs throw sediment into nearby creeks during when the road are wet, he said. Some closure methods include bulldozing multiple berms to bar off -road traffic or regrading the flat road to its previous natural slope. A public process will be started in the next few month to gather comments on the proposed dosures, but Strohmeyer hopes they would not be controversial. "It's kind of the low -hanging fruit, such as redundant roads that were part of a logging system and we aren't going to need that road anymore," he said. Access Advocates The commissioners have been diligent to advocate forest access for recreation or industries such as mining. In 2011, Valley County joined a 2009 suit in federal court against the Payette, claiming that roads used historically, some even before creation of the Forest Service, should stay open. As a result, a collaborative citizens group ranging from miners to fish biologists is examining access roads in the Big Creek -South Fork Salmon River area. The roads on the list presented by Strohmeyer involve a different roads than those in the Valley County suit. The current effort is part of the Forest Service's attempt nationwide to determine which roads should be left open for the agency to adequately administer and protect the forests. The roads researched for possible dosure are divided into two levels: • Level 1: A Level 1 road has been closed to all traffic, including administration, for more than a year. Many have vanished back into the landscape and are covered with vegetation. Up to 90 percent of the 250 miles analyzed on the Payette are Level 1 roads. "They're usually built for timber sales that we kept for future access. We put them into long-term storage," Strohmeyer said. • Level 2: A Level 2 road can be traveled by a vehicle with high clearance and is maintained every two to five years. They may be dosed seasonally, year-round or used just by the Forest Service under the proposal. About 10 percent of the 250 miles on the Payette and three miles of the 55 miles on the Cascade district are Level 2 roads. Commissioner Ell Hasbrouck said he would like the proposed closures plotted on a map to ensure some areas do not become de facto wilderness, where fire suppression is restricted and only horsemen or experienced hikers are able to visit. Back To Index/Menu corm Don Bailey Main News Index Helping Hands at Head Start Pipe Cleaner:Feds say RV park near Donnelly must put in sewer lines, drainage Coming Clean: 'care team' inspires McCall man to quit drinking, live better Back To Current Edition http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/archive_2015/12_03_15_webedition/fp_stories p... 12/28/2015 Star -News News Outdoors Page Page 3 of 3 Back To Index/Menu Payette National Forest seeks state grant • trails The McCall and Krassel ranger districts on the Payette National Forest are applying for state recreation grants next year for trail improvements. One grant would fund winter trail rangers to maintain trailheads and snowmobile parking lots and provide information about the 291 miles of groomed trails on the forest. Another grant would support the Payette Avalanche Center's daily avalanche forecast, educational classes and weather stations. Plans also call for rerouting sections of the Jackson Creek Trail off Warren Wagon Road near McCall away from wet areas and enhance the trail. Another proposal would replace the Clayburn Saddle outhouse damaged by the Teepee Springs Fire last summer. Grant money is sought to maintain and brush about 40 miles of the motorized branch of the Idaho Centennial Trail. The money also would install more drainage and identify routes along the Zena Creek Trail 294, and Tailholt Trail 079 to Bear Lake to where it ties into the Grimmet Creek Trail 129. Funds also would go to maintenance on about 40 miles in the Buckhorn area. Comments or requests for more information should go to Susan Jenkins at 634-0440 or sjenkins02@fs.fed.us or Joshua Simpson at 634-0616 or jtsimpson@fs.fed.us. Details on the proposals are on the Payette website at www fs usda gov/payette. Back To Index/Menu © Copyright 2009-2015 Central Idaho Publishing Inc. • All rights reserved S� / 11 -1Il� http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/archive_2015/12_17_15 webedition/outdoors_pa... 12/28/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Payette approves more drilling for Midas Gold, but company may pass BY DAN GALLAGHER for The Star -News The Payette National Forest has geared the way for Midas Gold Corp. to conduct mote exploratory drilling at Stibnite, but the company may not need any more test toles on the federal land. The Idaho Conservation League and the Nez Perce Tribe had filed objections to the Forest Service decision to conduct further drilling at the site to develop a mining operations plan. Krassel District Ranger Anthony Botello last Thursday approved the exploration at the Stibnite Gold Project after the groups withdrew their objections. The approval would allow about 128 drill pads in 24 drilling areas, but Midas has not decided whether to follow through after extensive drilling on nearby private property. 'With respect to drilling, our priority targets primarily lie on private land and so are not affected by this permit, once it is finalized," Midas CEO Stephen Quin said. "However, were we to drill on Stibnite, we might conduct some preliminary drill testing at some of the prospects now permitted during the three-year term of the permit," Quin said. Batello's decision said exploration witl not be allowed in the Sugar and South Sugar dnit areas because it would be within 100 feet of Sugar Creek, which is critical habitat for endangered fish. Included with the drilling would be approval to use 3.8 miles of existing temporary road, building three - eighths of a mile of new, temporary road, and expanding an existing borrow pit to about an acre, the decision said. Quin said the objections centered around the potential for sediment going into Johnson Creek and the East Fork of the South Fork Salmon River from mining traffic. Midas had crushed gravel near Yellow Pine for roadwork and has a local quarry, so it committed to use that material to help prevent sediment spills which satisfied the objections, he said. ICL Public Lands Director John Robison praised the decision not to allow drilling near Sugar Creek in a Viewpoint that appears on Page 8 of this issue of The Star -News. "However, having seen the impact of previous mining projects ... we don'tthink that the current open pit mine plan is compatible with protecting the dean water, fish, wildlife and recreation in the South Fork Salmon River headwaters," Robison said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp stories page.php 1/21/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Payette waiting for Midas Gold Payette forest will need years to process proposal at Stibnite after plan is presented BY DAN GALLAGHER for The Star -News Midas Gold Corp. still does not know when it will submit a plan of operations to the Payette National Forest, the company's CEO said last week. "We haven't made the decision, but It would be in the not too distant future," Stephen Quin said of the plan. "Our environmental baseline study is already largely complete." Once an operating plan is filed, then an extensive review is started by state and federal agencies that could take up to four years to complete. "Everybody knows because of mining that there's been negative impacts, but can we quantify it?" Quin said. "You can't come up with a plan to remediate this unless you know what the problem is" Ma" cow, Mario cold Midas Gold Corp. CEO Stephen Quin, center, points out a feature of an interpretive display to visitors to the Stibnite Gold Project last summer. The company has spent $110 million so far In Valley County to try and determine how much gold is under the ground at the Stibnite mining district near Yellow Pine in Valley County. In 2014, Quin had said mining at Stibnite would be profitable as long as gold prices stay above $1,200 an ounce. The gold price on Tuesday was $1,088. Midas figures it would cost $800 to extract an ounce of gold from its main Yellow Pine deposit, while mining at the company's West End and Hangar Flats deposits would cost $1,100 per ounce. "The key point is we're not building the mine today," Quin said. "All we're moving to is the permitting stage and one of the permitting obligations is ensuring 'reasonable foreseeable outcomes.' " Latest estimates say 6.6 million ounces of gold are likely under the ground at Stibnite, of which 4.6 million ounces could be extracted profitably. The Stibnite site is quiet this winter with only security employees on duty at the company's residential camp. Midas currently employs 32 people in Donnelly and Boise with six in Canada, he said. Midas Gold expects about 700 jobs would be created during construction of the mining operation, with 500 direct Jobs created during mining plus 500 indirect jobs such as truck drivers and teachers needed for extra students. As part of the permitting process, government regulators will set the amount of the bond Midas must provide for cleanup in case the company unexpectedly shuts down. The company has committed to provide permanent storage of tailings and waste rock, establish the former salmon spawning stream through the historic "Glory Hole" pit and clean up metal pollution from prior mining. "What you want to do is rather than promising when we get there is starting doing things now," Quin said http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 1 /21 /2016 Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 Special Delivery Payette Forest sculpture has Smokey, Woodsy hauling tree to D.C. BY CHRISTIE GROB for The Star -News Keith Lannom usually spends his time behind a desk, managing the affairs of the 2.3 million acre Payette National Forest. Last week, however, Lannom was wielding a saw, carving away in the cold at a large block of snow. Lannom and a dozen other volunteers are spending the nights up to the 2016 McCall Winter Carnival carving and slushing a celebration to the Payette being chosen to provide the 2016 Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. The sculpture, named "An Idaho Mountain Gem," depicts a seven -foot -tall Smokey Bear and his sidekick Woodsy Owl pulling a snowy tree on a sled toward the steps of a frozen Capital building. Payette employees and their families have donated their time to get the sculpture ready in time for judging on Friday. The work starts each night after office hours and none of the employees are paid for their time. "We have had up to 10 volunteers at a time," said New Meadows District Ranger Kim Pierson, who is heading up the sculpting effort. Occasionally, members of the community have shown up to observe the work, Pierson said. In keeping with this years carnival theme of "Beyond Tomorrow," the sculpture is about something Pierson feels is a great event for the people of Idaho that will have benefits beyond 2016. "We'll be giving this gem to the nation," she said. Lannom has volunteered his time on sculpting snow for the Forest Service entries all five years he has been supervisor. "We try to go big," he said, noting the advantages of the large site and ample shade of the Payette's sculpture location. There will be at least two photo stations incorporated into the sculpture. One will be in front of the Capitol building and another where visitors can "help" Smokey and Woodsy pull the tree. In addition to the sculpture, the Payette will host two sessions during the McCall Winter Camival for youths to make ornaments for the 2016 Capitol Christmas Tree. A yurt where the omaments will be made will be open from at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Depot Park near Hotel McCall. The Payette has been charged with overseeing the making of 8,000 omaments for the tree. U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, will formally kick off the effort at 2 p.m. Saturday. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 1 /28/2016 Star -News News Groups Page Page 1 of 1 Payette proposes salvaging timber from Tepee Springs Fire Payette National Forest officials seek public comment on a project to salvage trees bumed by the Tepee Springs Fire north of New Meadows last summer. The lightning -caused blaze spread to about 96,000 acres on federal, state and private lands and jumped to the north side of the Salmon River east of Riggins Cutting would take place on about 85 acres of burned lane. Of the 53,109 acres burned within the Payette only 8,900 acres were outside of roadless areas, and about half of those acres had been bumed since 1990, a Payete news release said. Other areas were reviewed for logging, but were found to be too challenging to remove trees efficiently, the news release said. Comments are sought by March 8. Implementation is proposed to begin in early spring. Comments should be sent by mail to Kim Pierson, New Meadows District Ranger, P.O. Box J, New Meadows, ID 83654, by email to comments-intermtn-payette-new-meadows@fsJed.us or by telephone to Forester Jeremy Greenwood at 347-0315. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/groups_page.php 2/ 11 /2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Collaborative agrees on backcountry roads to close, keep Group starts with Big Creek, will move to S. Fork, E. Fork "It's painful at times. However it works. " - Sandra Mitchell BY DAN GALLAGHER for The Star -News After years of study from a citizens group, the Payette National Forest has proposed closing some roads and rehabilitating others in the Big Creek area of Valley County. There currently are about five miles of trail open to off - highway vehicles in the big Creek area, located northeast of Yellow Pine in the remote back country of the county. A total of 11 miles of Forest Service road are open to the public, four miles of federal and temporary roads are closed for use and 37 miles are unauthorized road. The proposal would obliterate about 10 miles of the unauthorized roads, while another 20 miles would be rehabilitated. Ten miles of road would managed for off- highway vehicle use such as ATVs. Signage and educational information would be added, as well as stream crossings. Comments will be accepted until Tuesday on the plan, called the Big Creek Restoration and Access Management Project. The Big Creek - Yellow Pine Collaborative has met since 2012 to determine which roads and trails should be left open, be closed or set aside for possible later use. The collaborative includes miners, recreationists, residents, environmentalists, biologists and Forest Service employees. "We know that recreation use will not go away," Krassel District Ranger Anthony Botello said. "We're just trying to put it in the best spot for access but not impact the resources if we can." The collaborative was formed after landowners in the area challenged an earlier road - closure plan issued by the Forest Service in 2009. Valley County commissioners joined in the fight to demand ample access to the area. Poorly Built Many of the roads studied provided access to mines and were not built properly or maintained, according to the study. That allowed sediment to flow into the streams where threatened Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout live. The Big Creek study is the first of three studies of roads in the back country, Botello said. The advisory group is in the middle of discussions on roads around the South Fork of the Salmon River, and the group will also take on roads around the East Fork of the South Fork Salmon River. "The process Is a variety of groups were involved," said Valley County Commission Chair Gordon Cruickshank, who sits on the collaborative group. "There was a rounded group with miners and access proponents, a resource group such as the Nez Perce Tribe and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and then recreation," Cruickshank said. "They've come to a consensus." The collaborative brought in people with different views to try and find common ground, he said. "It's painful at times. However it works," said Sandra Mitchell with the Idaho Recreation Council and Idaho State Snowmobile Association. "Maybe to solve a problem, there has to be a little pain," Mitchell said. "I admire everybody who comes and collaborates and sticks it out." Good things are possible when people come together, said John Robison, public lands director with the Idaho Conservation League. "People have been able to respect and listen to other persons' concems to protect recreation opportunities and restore areas worth recreating in," Robison said. The document can be viewed at http : / /fs.usda.gov /projecU ?project =45084 http:// www. mccallstarnews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 5/26/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 CORRECTION A story in The Star -News last week stated an incorrect deadline for comment on the Big Creek Restoration and Access Management Project. The deadline for comment on the project is June 25. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 6/2/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Different Hats: Payette National Forest employees change roles during Field Day BY BRIAN HARRIS for The Star -News Nearly 400 employees of the Payette National Forest left their offices and went to work outside during the recent All Employee Field Day. "This annual event allows all of our employees to contribute to work on the ground, while workings side -by- �°�. side to build relationship with fellow employees," Payettett*�k forest Supervisor Keith Lannom said. in McCall, employees worked at the supervisor's office. ry t across from McCall- Donnelly High School school to thin p trees, trim weeds, construct a foot path and reposition storage containers. At the tree cooler in the McCall service yard, employees assisted with the making, sorting and packaging of some of the 8,000 ornaments that will be part of the U.S. Capitol z Christmas Tree celebration this fall. rnaa cr admr Jenny Turner, normally a forester at the New The McCall Ranger District had employees clear roadways Meadows Ranger tationt, peens a fence post o the 9 � take Fork Guard Station during the All Employee of downed trees, install visitor signs, and preparing the Lake Fieldwork Day for the Payette National Forest. Fork rental cabin for the summer. The New Meadows Ranger District focused on opening roads to the Rough Finn and Cold Bear timber thinning areas. The Krassel Ranger District had employees rebuild the log post and rail fence around the Krassel airstrip and paint the outside of buildings at the work center. They also had employees rake campsites, clear vegetation, paint picnic tables and clear downed trees. Other crews worked on trails and installed trail signs. The Council Ranger District focused on the Evergreen Campground by clearing and chipping downed trees, then placing those chips throughout the campground to improve its appearance. They also removed brush from around Douglas fir saplings to invigorate growth while conducting brush clearance to open access in the campground. Picnic tables were repaired and repainted. The Weiser Ranger District worked on Brownlee Campground and the Brownlee Guard Station. Crews cleared brushed out, repaired and positioned new fence posts along the fence line surrounding the campground to keep livestock out of the campsites. They also repaired and repainted picnic tables, ad Geared brush from nearby historical sites for better access. "I hope our employees will continue to invest in the relationships they either started or grew yesterday," Lannom said. "Those relationships are what helps this forest maintain our welcoming and inclusive work environment, which in turn, gets us a long way towards accomplishing the agency mission — caring for the land and serving people," he said. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 7/7/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Shhh! Lucky tree on Payette forest picked to head to U.S. Capitol Location to remain secret until tree is cut in November BY CHRISTIE GROB for The Stu -News Ted Bechtol has found the perfect tree on the Payette National Forest to be placed In front of the U.S. Capitol this holiday, but he can't tell anyone where to see it. Bechtol, the superintendent of grounds for the U.S. Capitol Architect's Office, visited the Payette last week to pick a tree for the west lawn of the Capitol to greet holiday visitors to Washington, D.C. He found an 80 -foot tall Engelmann Spruce as well as at least one backup tree in case Mother Nature deals a blow to the selected tree before it is cut on Nov. 2. "For security reasons, the location of the tree will not be disclosed," said Brian Harris, public affairs officer for the Payette. Bechtol likened his search to a beauty contest, picking the tree with the best traditional characteristics of shape, color and fullness. "It's got to be good all the way around," he said as he gazed into a canopy of possible candidates. Poaub hS Ne byR Gmb Capitol Grounds Supenisor Ted Bwltol and McCall smokejumper Chris Niceoli size up a ceadidate for the 2ot6 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree '.. somewhere on the Pa%ette National Forest last week. Accompanying Bechtol on his quest last week were Chris Niccoli, a McCall smokejumper given the task of locating the candidate trees. Over the past several months, Niccoli and Fire Operation Specialist Jared Schuster tagged 12 trees believed to be the best candidates according to a specific set of criteria. Extensive Search Using snowshoes and dirt bikes, Niccoli and Schuster spent a lot of time searching for candidates, sometimes returning to some areas several times. "I would stop and 1 would look at one, 1'd go'well maybe' and I'd move on and 1'd come back," he said. "It's pretty much like what you are looking for when picking a tree for your home," Harris said. Access for a crane also had to be considered, he said. Last week's field trip included representatives of Se!d Crane Service of Kuna, whose job it will be to safely place the cut tree on a trailer. Along with the gargantuan conifer, private Idaho tree farms will provide 70 smaller trees of varying sizes to be displayed in federal offices in the nation's capital. A tree has adomed the West Lawn of the United States Capitol provided from the nation's forests since 1968. This year's tree will be the second chosen from the forests of Idaho. The first was a 70 foot Engelmann Spruce chosen from the Boise National Forest in 2003. More than 7,000 omaments with Idaho themes have already been made by students from the across the state, Harris said. About 3,000 more will be needed by the time the trees are decorated, he said. Page 1 of 1 http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 8/4/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page I of I Judge rejects Golden Hand Mine exploration Proposal would lume allowed 571 truck trips into wilderness BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News A federal judge has ruled that the Payette National Forest violated federal law by approving a plan to allow bulldozers, dump trucks and drilling rigs on a mining claim inside the Frank Church -River of No Return Wildemess. The judge's decision invalidates the plan of the owners of the Golden Hand Mine and requires the Payette to find less invasive ways to allow the miners to explore for golf. The Aug. 2 decision by U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill said the Payette violated the Wilderness Act, the National Forest Management Act and the National Environmental Policy Act by giving approval to explore the Golden Hand site in December 2014. The lawsuit, filed in June 2015, was filed by the Idaho Conservation League, Earthworks, The Wildemess Society, Friends of the Clearwater, and Wildemess Watch. "Wilderness areas are afforded the highest level of protection of any federal public land in our nation," said Bryan Hurlbutt, attorney with Advocates for the West. The Payette's decision would have allowed American Independence Mines and Minerals Company to make 571 truck trips into and back out of the Wildemess each summer during the three -year project. AIMMCO would have also used dump trucks, bulldozers and drilling rigs to open roads, clear drill pads and excavate trenches within the wilderness. Grp_'". wm" Iraa. ca Map show lotion of the Golden Hand tuning claims inside the Frank church River of No Return Wilderness Area (green line). "The Forest Service has no easy task here," Winmill said in his decision. "It must balance mineral extraction with wilderness protection." The Payette's decision was "arbitrary and capricious because it may have relied on information withheld from the public" and failed to explain its conclusions, Winmill wrote. Walking Workers The Payette also did not take into account alternatives to the company's proposal, including whether workers could walk to the site to reduce the number of motorized trips. "Even when a mining company has some rights within wilderness, its workers can walk through the wilderness like the rest of us, and any mining activities must be limited to the absolute minimum," Huributt said. The Golden Hand mining claims are located on about 300 acres a mile inside the Frank Church wilderness 19 miles north of Yellow Pine. The claims are about five miles north of the popular Big Creek trailhead that leads into the wilderness. The proposal was not for extracting gold, but to build 11 drilling pads to collect core samples that would be tested for traces of gold. Such exploration is required by federal law in order for the claims to remain valid. "Thousands of people who hike, hunt, fish and float in the Frank Church River of No Return Wildemess spoke out against this project," said John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League. "The court ruled that the Forest Service has to find a better balance and work harder to protect the public's rights and Wildemess values," Robison said. The Golden Hand proposal would have seen improvements on eight miles of existing roads, including four miles within the wilderness, to allow cars and trucks to haul in people and drilling equipment. Work on the proposal has been going on since 2007, when AIMMCO first said it wanted to explore the claims. http: / /www.mccallstamews.com /pages /fp_stories _page.php 8/11/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Real Eyes: Payette exhibit shows the role of fire lookouts on national forests BY TERI ROBINSON for The Star -News Visitors to McCall can now get a close -up look at a time- honored method of fire detection with no mountain climbing is required. The former Peck Mountain Lookout from the Council Ranger District, decommissioned in the mid- 1990s, and now stands In front of the Payette National Forest headquarters on Mission Street. The lookout was built in 1935 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. The lookout was occupied each summer until the 1970s. The Peck Mountain lookout was built as a "crows nest," perched on a 45 -foot tower, in order to look over tree tops. A ground level cabin and garage built nearby served as the living quarters, according to a recently placed interpretive sign. The lookouts are normally operated by a single person, but occasionally a husband and wide will operate one together, Payette National Forest Public Affairs Officer Brian Hams said. u �y The former Peck Mountain Lookout now stands in front of the Payette National Forest headquarters in McCall. According to the interpretive sign, Idaho had more lookouts than any other state in the 1940s and the Payette National Forest had as many as 50. Of those, 13 are still staffed and functional today, Harris said. Some lookouts have been upgraded throughout the years to better serve their purpose, such as the Sheepeater Lookout north of Chamberlain Basin. Another upgraded lookout, the Miners Peak lookout, was built in 1948 and later replaced in 1985. Throughout the years, lookouts have changed style to best fit the location and function needed to operate correctly. Some started out as tent platforms, while others had 360 - degree views with a kitchen, living space, and everything needed for communications, according to the interpretive sign. Advances in both technology and communication has allowed lookouts to still be a necessity when warning of wildfires and keeping firefighters informed on the status of a fire from a higher ground. Even though there are not as many lookouts today as there were over 70 years ago, they are still needed to provide eyes on top of the mountains to provide early warning, Harris said. Page 1 of 1 http: / /www.mccalistamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 8/18/2016 Star -News News Outdoors Page Page 1 of 1 Black bear intrusions close Kennally Creek camp The Payette National Forest has temporarily closed the Kennally Creek Campground and trailhead east of Donnelly due to black bear intrusions over the last few weeks. On Thursday, August 11, a black bear attempted to enter an unoccupied vehicle. In the weeks prior, a black bear came into the campground while it was occupied. The area will be closed to the public until at least Aug_ 31, a Payette forest news release said. The closure includes Kennally Creek Campground, Kennally Creek Horse Camp, and the North Fork of Kennally Creek Trail (No. 102), from the trailhead at Kennally Creek Campground to the junction with the Needles Summit Trail (No. 101). The Needles Summit Trail and rest of the North Fork of Kennally Creek Trail are open for use. Closing the campgrounds, trail, and trailhead will to eliminate the presence of human food and garbage and will allow time for the bears to relocate, the Payette news release said. All forest visitors should make sure food and garbage is secured in their vehicle, especially when the campsite is unoccupied and at night, Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Biologist Regan Berkley said. "Bears have great noses and long memories, and it likely returned to the campground several times In hopes of getting more food," Berkley said, "Unfortunately, once bears have grown used to human food and lost their fear of humans, they can become unpredictable and dangerous," she said. For more information, contact Susan Jenkins at the McCall Ranger District at 634.0415 or sjenkins02@fs.fed.us. fs.fed.us. For more information about black bears, contact Berkley at 634 -8137 or regan.berkley@idfg.idaho.gov. http: / /www.mccallstarnews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 8/18/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Logging near New Meadows to start after federal lawsuit dismissed Contract one of several to improve health of national forest BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News The dismissal of a lawsuit by a federal judge has cleared the way for logging on Payette National Forest land near New Meadows. The Payette has awarded the Cold Bear Stewardship Contract to Idaho Forest Group of Grangeville. The project is located on the New Meadows District near Lost Valley Reservoir and is the second of a dozen contracts planned as part of the Lost Creek Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project. The contract will see timber cutting on 892 acres and improvements on 14 miles of roads. The contract is expected to produce about 6.6 million board feet of logs for wood products, a Payette forest news release said. In the timber stands, thinning and controlled bums will be used to encourage the growth of larger trees, improve wildlife habitat and make the area less prone to large wildfires, the news release said The road work will improve water quality in streams along the roads, which in turn will aid in growing fish populations. In June 2015, a lawsuit was filed by Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Idaho Sporting Congress, and Native Ecosystems Council seeking to stop the project. On Aug. 31, U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge dismissed the case, saying the Payette did not violate federal law or regulations, as claimed by the lawsuit. "The court's decision upheld the collaborative work by the Payette Forest Coalition and the Payette Forest's interdisciplinary team in designing an ecologically -sound landscape restoration project," Payette Supervisor Keith Lannom said. The Lost Creek Boulder Creek restoration Project will result in a forest that is closer to a more natural state and more resistant to wildfires, Lannom said. The Payette Forest Coalition includes member from the environmental community, forestry groups, timber industry, motorized and non - motorized recreation groups, and county and state government agencies. The coalition met for two years to understand conditions, develop goals, and to consider different approaches to meeting goals for this project, the Payette news release said. Work on the Cold Bear Stewardship Contract is expected to begin this fall or next spring and continue through March of 2020. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_ stories _page.php 9/15/2016 Star -News News Events Page Tour schedule announced for the 2016 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree The U.S. Capital Christmas Tree will make stops in McCall, Cascade and New Meadows before it begins its journey to Washington, D.C., the Payette National Forest has announced. The tree will be in downtown McCall from 5 p.m, to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov, 5, before moving to Kelly's Whitewater Park in Cascade from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. The tree will also make a stop in downtown New Meadows from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9. For more than 50 years, a Christmas tree has graced the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. The Payette National Forest, in partnership with nonprofit Choose Outdoors, was selected to provide this year's tree. An 80 -foot Engelmann spruce has been selected near McCall but its location has not been disclosed. It will be cut on Nov. 2 and prepared for the 2,000 -mile expedition. The tree will travel the length and breadth of Idaho before heading east, including stops in Utah, Colorado, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. The tree is scheduled to arrive at Joint Base Andrew in Maryland on Nov. 27, after which it will be erected at the U.S. Capitol and a lighting ceremony held. Page 1 of 1 http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/events—arts_page.php 9/15/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Payette forest packs up 10,000 ornaments for Capitol Christmas Tree BY CHUSTIE GROB for The Star -News Last week, Pattie Soucek was surrounded by all manner of wildlife, flowers and bows, all with a common destination. It was the job of Soucek and other volunteers of the Payette National Forest to package and ship 10,000 ornaments to be placed on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree next month. "It's kind of like Santa's workshop," Soucek said of the scene in what is normally a tree cooler at the Payette's McCall District office. The ornaments will be placed on an 80 foot Engelmann spruce to be cut near McCall on Nov. 2 and paraded around Idaho and the nation before being erected in front of the U.S Capitol. By Friday, plans called for hundreds of boxes to be shipped containing origami bluebirds, miniature versions of Idaho potato sacks and brown trout made out of aluminum cans. Al Re f.n sm- rk".Mcn- Pattie Soucek is shown in a Payette National Forest warehouse surrounded by some of the to,000 omaments destined to be placed on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Since the project's kickoff during the 2016 McCall Winter Carnival, making the ornaments has occupied schoolchildren throughout the state as well as those who dropped by booths during the Winter Carnival and Fourth of July celebrations. Even the members of the tree selection party that came in July from Washington D.C. to choose the Capitol Christmas tree got in on the ornament craze. Superintendent of Grounds Ted Bechtol and Public Affairs Officer Laura Condeluci were asked to each make an ornament for the tree. "They had never been asked to make one before," Soucek said. Bechtol and Condeluci were invited to stop by the cooler to see ornaments that had already arrived. It had been the first time they had gotten to see the ornaments before they showed up at the Capitol, Soucek said. "They told us these are the best ornaments they had ever seen," said Soucek. As the ornaments arrived in the cooler, Soucek and the volunteers sorted through each box and made repairs as needed. Some ornaments that have been made of materials carrying brand names had to be painted over. "Congress can't appear to be endorsing any product," she said. After sorting and repair, the ornaments then were sprayed with glitter and sealed for shipment. Shipping along with the ornaments and trees were several tree skirts created by quilters from around the state to be used for other Idaho trees to be placed in government offices in Washington, D.C. A tree has been chosen from the nation's forests and adorned the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol since 1968. Page 1 of 1 http: / /www.mccallstamews.com /pages /fp_stories _page.php 10/13/2016 Star -News News Lead Story Page Hiding in Plain Sight US. Caytiol Christmas Tree lived at Little Ski Htll BY TOM GROTE for The Star-\e%% s The "secret" location of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree wasn't so secret after all. The 80400t Englemann spruce that will stand in front of }t the U.S Capitol in Washington D.C. was in plain sight of motorists driving along Idaho 55 past the Little Ski Hill west `, c of McCall. A F The location was officially hidden until Monday, when the Payette National Forest announced the tree cutting for Wednesday. y Two Payette employees, Jared Schuster and Chris Niccoli, V—fi� S .1 cutthet ree Wednesday morning using a crosscut saw to —byC- dared Schuster, left, and Chris Niccoi use anold- honor the traditional skills used in designated wilderness fashioned cross-cut saw to fell the O.S. Capitol areas. ChrishnasTree wednesdap at the Little Ski Hill near McCall Cranes then gently lifted the tree onto a massive flatbed trailer, where it will travel around Idaho and the nation during the next month before arriving in Washington D.C. Before that journey begins, however, the people of McCall will give the tree a proper send -off on Saturday. The tree was designated as "the perfect tree" by Ted Bechtol, superintendent of grounds for the Architect of the U.S. Capitol, when Bechtol visited McCall in July to view candidate trees, Payette Public Affairs Officer Brian Harris said. Niccoli and Schuster were in charge of picking out finalists from among the millions of trees located on the Payette. The Little Ski Hill tree was separated from other trees, allowing it to grow quicker, be more healthy and to have branches all the way around it, Harris said. The location near Idaho 55 was a bonus that made getting the cranes and haulers in and out easier, he said. Saturday Festivities On Saturday, the tree will be located at Alpine Village, where children are invited to gather at 4:30 p.m. to receive goodie bags and meet Smokey Bear. At 5 p.m., a parade through downtown will begin and children and their parents will be escorted in front of the tree. The tree will stop on Second Street, where the Celebration will conlinue with the Big Idaho Potato Truck, a chili cook -off, cookies and hot chocolate, and live music by Play Date sponsored by the McCall Public Library. Both Smokey Bear and Santa Claus will be greeting guests. The city of McCall will kick off the holiday season early in honor of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree by lighting the city's holiday tree in Art Roberts Park at 6:30 p.m. "Come out and enjoy this event, sign the banner, and celebrate Idaho and the Payette National Forest as our'ldaho Mountain Gem' crosses the U.S., bound for our nation's capital," Payette Supervisor Keith Lannom said. After the McCall celebration, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tee will be prepared for its nearly 4,000 -mile expedition. The tree will make several stops throughout the state before heading east. The tree will stop in Cascade on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Kelly's Whitewater Park and visit downtown New Meadows on Wednesday from 9 a.m, to 10 a.m. 25 Celebrations Twenty -five community celebrations are planned along the tour route, culminating with the official tree lighting on Dec. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. The tree will be decorated with more than 18,000 ornaments designed and created by Idaho residents, Forest Service employees, and civic organizations. Also arriving in Washington D.C_ with the tree will be 122 bottles and one keg of beer from Salmon River Brewery in McCall brewed with boughs from the tree that were trimmed to prepare it for transport. The brew, called U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Ale, will be featured during events associated with the Page 1 of 2 hnp: / /www.mccallstamews.com /pages /leadpage.php 11/3/2016 ".1ews News Lead Story Page k tree lighting, Matt Ganz of the brewery said. Smaller companion trees will be provided by the Idaho Christmas Tree Growers to decorate offices inside of the U.S. Capitol building and other sites around Washington, D.C. Page 2 of 2 http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /lead _page.php 11/3/2016 Lead Story Main News Opinion Arts/Events Outdoors/Rec Junior Steelheads Sports/Schools Of Record Groups Info Desk Announcements Public Notices Current Edition �✓� lm N,dmm� 99 9F ieattemd Clouds Don Bailey atM89AM os: «unto e,P.F� ,r�•,,r n;- Ckck fi , Fenea .. `...... OUTDOORS I RECREATION— THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017 Outdoors Index Payette issues decisions on road access in Big Creek area The Payette National Forest has issued decisions on road access to the Big Creek area in a remote part of Valley County. The Big Creek Restoration and Access Management Plan and the Big Creek Roads Plan of Operations involve areas of the Payette's Krassel District about seven miles northeast of Yellow Pine. The Big Creek Restoration and Access Management Plan will help resolve a decades -long controversy over road closures in this part of the forest, a Payette news release said. Many parts of the project were recommended by the Big Creek Yellow Pine Collaborative as part of a planning process that took years to complete. The project will maintain or improve watersheds and designate a minimum system of roads, the news release said. The Payette will now implement activities such as route designation and improvements, stream crossing improvements, educational and interpretive improvements, and dosing or restoring roads. Access to outstanding private rights is considered in the plan, the release said. The Big Creek Roads Plan of Operations is a separate project that overlaps many of the same roads considered in the Big Creek Restoration and Access Management Plan. This plan looked at travel on more than 26 miles of existing routes to provide access for miners over the next 10 years. Miners must build and maintain roads to certain standards during operations and possibly close the roads after mining is completed, under the plan. The Big Creek Yellow Pine Collaborative also has submitted a recommendation for the South Fork of the Salmon River Restoration and Access Management Plan, and the Payette plans to begin gathering public comment this summer. The collaborative is also developing a recommendation for the East Fork South Fork Salmon River area of the forest. Back To Index/Menu Cascade Golf Course to open for walkers only Saturday Cascade Golf Course will open for walkers only on Saturday. The nine -hole course will be open every day for play. Players may carry their own bags or pull them on carts, but no powered golf carts are permitted until the frost leaves the green, Bill Leaf of the Cascade Golf Association said. Prices for Fridays through Sunday are $22 for nine holes and $40 for 18 holes. Prices for Mondays through Thursdays are $15 for nine holes and $25 for 18 holes. The clubhouse is located at 117 Lakeshore Dr. on the shore of Lake Cascade. Call 382 -4653. Players coaches sought for Babe Ruth baseball team Players are being sought for the Valley County Diamond Dawgs, the local team for High Mountain Babe Ruth Baseball. The team is seeking boys ages 13 to 15 from Valley County, New Meadows and Riggins to play on the team. The season runs from the beginning of May through mid -June. Twelve regular - season games are planned in the Central Idaho League, which includes teams from Orofino, Weippe /Pierce, Kooskia/Kamiah, Grangeville, Cottonwood, and Nezperce. Playoff games also are planned. "As the program grows, we are hopeful to try and develop additional teams within Valley and Adams counties as well as eventually host a tournament in McCall," said Gregg Tankersley, who helps with program development. The team is also in need of coaches this season especially community members who have had experience, Tankersley said. The goal of High Mountain Babe Ruth Baseball is to provide an opportunity for young ball players who wish to continue their playing experience after Little League Baseball. Cost is $125 per player. For questions, contact Tankersley at (208) 989 -1051 or greggtank @yahoo.com, Jamie Hilt at 315 -3519 or the team's general email at high mtnbasebal I @g mail. tom. Cascade Golf Course to open for walkers only Saturday Players coaches sought for Babe Ruth baseball team Teams sought for July coed softball tournament Recreation district opens registration for baseball, softball Rec district has openings for Float Your Boat program Controlled bums planned for Cascade Ranger District • Junior Steelheads Page Back To Current Edition