Chimney Rock March 2011

Photograph compliments of Tom Holman Northwest Images

CHIMNEY ROCK CHRONICLESMarch 2011

Volume 6, Issue 1

EDITOR’S NOTEThis is the latest issue of Chim-

ney Rock Chronicles, brought to you by The Newport and Gem State Miner Newspapers. Any-one with comments, suggestions or submissions is encouraged to contact our offices at 509-447-2433, e-mail [email protected] or mail to P.O. Box 349 Newport, WA 99156.

The Miner staff enjoys pro-ducing this quarterly newsletter, as it gives us a chance to focus on what is happening around Priest Lake. We maintain our unbiased point of view and want to focus on news stories and events that affect the commu-nity of Priest Lake.

If you would like to receive a subscription to this newsletter, contact us by the above informa-tion.

-Michelle Nedved, Editor

Find Chimney Rock

Chronicles online at

The Miner Onlinewww.pendoreillerivervalley.com

SEE GRIZZLY, 4 SEE ROADLESS, 4

Grizzly habitat protected

Acquisition Secures Habitat, Consolidates Ownership

NORDMAN – Nearly 500 acres west of Priest Lake, in an area known as Bismark Meadows, is being protected for grizzly bears.

The Vital Ground Founda-tion, a Missoula-based griz-zly bear protection group, announced Jan. 6 that it has acquired an additional 327 acres of crucial grizzly bear habitat at Bismark Meadows. This is the organization’s fourth project at the mead-

ows, and brings a total of 491 contiguous acres of lowland seasonal grizzly bear habitat under Vital Ground owner-ship and management at that location.

To compliment the lat-est acquisition, the sellers also granted a conservation covenant limiting subdivi-sion and development on an additional 20 acres at the edge of the meadows.

Located just west of Priest Lake, Bismark Meadows is a 1,100-acre complex of

Idaho roadless plan upheld

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Idaho District Court in Boise Monday upheld Idaho’s Road-less Rule created in 2006 by then-Gov. Jim Risch. It lays out five management themes for Idaho’s 9.3 million roadless acres based on local and state-wide input.

The plan was challenged by environmental groups.

Idaho has the largest and most diverse amount of land in the lower 48 states impacted by a 2001 nationwide roadless rule adopted by the Clinton administration. In 2005, the

MINER PHOTO|JANELLE ATYEO

Not spring yetChris Coon of Newport enjoys a cross country trip at Indian Creek Campground at Priest Lake Saturday, Feb. 28. Pat Akins, owner of the Leonard Paul Store at Coolin, said there is tons of fresh snow above 3,500 feet at the lake and there is plenty of snow down at the lake level for snowshoeing and Nordic skiing.

CHIMNEY ROCK CHRONICLES PAGE 2 2011

Grazing may be phased out at Four Corners

COURTESY MAP|IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FOREST

The Priest Lake Grazing Allotments plan calls for phasing out grazing at Four Corners, which has become more residential over the years. Allot-ments at Moores Creek and Lamb Creek would be reduced in size.

BY JANELLE ATYEOOF THE MINER

SANDPOINT – With the area becoming more residential, grazing may be phased out at the Idaho Panhandle National Forest’s Four Corners allotment along Highway 57 north of Priest River.

It’s part of the changes pro-posed in the IPNF’s Priest Lake Grazing Allotments Project. Acres set aside for grazing at two other allotments off of Highway 57 near Priest Lake may shrink, according to the plan.

A environmental analysis for the project was released Thurs-day, Feb. 10, starting a 30-day comment period.

Sandpoint District Ranger Richard Kramer is proposing to reduce the size of the Lamb Creek and Moores Creek acreages and phase out grazing at Four Cor-ners over the next four years.

People spoke out about grazing at Four Corners when comments were collected in 2006, saying livestock often wandered off National Forest land. The Forest Service considered fencing the area, but it would be expensive and would dramatically reduce

the forage acres. Currently, up to 83 cow/calf

pairs may be grazed between June 1 and Sept. 1 on the 2,006 acres of the Four Corners allot-ment. Those numbers would stay the same this year, accord-ing to the plan, but starting in 2012, head counts would be reduced by 25 percent per year until there is no grazing there in 2015.

IPNF officials said they have spoken with the permitee, Sha-ron Tibbetts.

The Miner was not able to reach Tibbetts in time to com-ment on this story.

At Lamb Creek and Moores Creek, acreages would be reduced between 35 and 37 percent under the plan. The allowable head amounts would stay the same on each lot, and the grazing season would go unchanged.

The largest allotment at Lamb Creek, west of Luby Bay, the 6,181 acres set aside for grazing would be reduced to 3,911. From June trough October, 25 cow/calf pairs are allowed.

Moorse Creek, located south of Gleason Meadow, would be reduced from 2,984 to 1,925 acres, according to the plan. The

current 31 cow/calf pairs would be allowed from mid-May to mid-September.

The Forest Service has proposed adding a cattle guard on Forest Road 639 at Lamb Creek. To protect the stream there, the approaches to the stream crossing may be hardened. The water quality there is at risk due to elevated temperature, according to the environmental analysis.

Two new fences may be constructed at Moores Creek to keep cows out of the creek.

Three grazing areas that were part of the Priest Lake allotments – Boswell and the Upper and Lower Squaw Valley – were removed from

the project in 2008 when it was decided they were no longer providing viable grazing. Part of Boswell, the Hammond Ranch Pasture, was closed at the end of the last grazing season.

Send comments to the Sand-point Ranger District, Priest Lake Grazing Allotments Proj-ect, 1500 Highway 2, Suite 110, Sandpoint, ID 83864; fax to 208-265-6670 or submit electroni-cally at [email protected] with Priest Lake Grazing Allotments Project in the subject line.

For more information, contact Nancy Kertis at 208-263-5111 or [email protected]. Reports on the project are available at http://fs.usda.gov/goto/ipnf/projects.

Tree-thinning project in the plansSANDPOINT – The Idaho

Panhandle National Forest is planning to thin or prune about 5,200 acres of sapling-sized stands of white pine. The U.S. Forest Service is currently devel-oping a proposal for the project.

This is a long-range project. The thinning work would be done over five to 10 years, said Jeffrey Pennick from the Sand-point Ranger District. Work will probably start this summer.

Many of the stands are in the Priest Lake area. Others are south of Lake Pend Oreille, north of Clark Fork and north of

Bonners Ferry. According to the project summary, the juvenile stands were established through planting and natural reforesta-tion. Thinning near Priest Lake would be done at the Copper Mountain, Mad Lamb, Paqua, Klahowya, North Galena, East Lamb, Murray Creek, Flat Creek, Ojibway, Lower Quartz, Peewee Puzzle and Castro areas.

Pennick explained that fund-ing for these types of thinning projects is getting more and more scarce, so the forest needs to have a plan ready for when funding arrives.


Who to contactCoolin Sewer District

(208) 443-2034 Address: P.O. Box 86, Coolin, ID 83821 Provides sewer services in a portion of the Coolin and Cavanaugh Bay areas. Board meets first Tuesday, 8 a.m. at the district office on Eastside Road. Board members: chairman Chris Warren, vice chairman Stuart Wagner, Gene Nett, Gordon Cook and Dan Mack. Secretary Mary Meek; Maintenance Chris Morris.

Kalispell Bay Sewer District(208) 443-2338 P.O. Box 517, Nordman, ID

83848 Runs from Indian Rock up to Hill’s Resort, plus a portion of the Luby Bay Road. Board meets at Kalispell Bay Sewer District Office at 7:30 a.m. on the second Monday of the month unless otherwise posted per Idaho Open Meeting Law. Board members: chairman Russ Coykendall, Tom McDonough, Jim Anderson, Gary Rudie and Roger Bonneau. Secretary Debra Nolen; Maintenance Tom Holman.

Outlet Bay Sewer District(208) 443-3831 Address: 149 Outlet Bay

Road, Priest Lake, ID 83856 Provides sewer services in portions of the Outlet Bay and Lamb Creek areas. Board meets the third Thursday, but call for exact date and time. Board members: chairman Richard Hamm, Lana Feldman, James Phelps, Jim Hoagland and Greg Bradbury. Field Manager: Fritz Broschet; Office Manager: Kari Davis.

Coolin-Cavanaugh Bay Fire Protection/District

(208) 443-3118 Address: P.O. Box 6, Coolin ID 83821. Fire emergencies: 911 Serves east side of Priest Lake with fire station at Coolin. Commissioners: Bob Johns and Forrest Jackson. The commissioners meet quarterly, usually the first month of the quarter. Business number: (208) 443-3205; Manager: Diane Munk.

West Priest Lake Fire DistrictFire emergencies: 911 West side of Priest

Lake, from Kokanee Trailer Park to Distillery Bay, with fire stations at Kalispell Bay and Nordman. Business: (208) 993-1825; 4777 West Lakeshore Road, Priest Lake ID 83856 Fire Chief: Tim Ventress; Commissioners: Craig Hill, Tom Bell and Bill Bushman. Commissioners meet as needed.

Granite-Reeder Water & Sewer District

(208) 443-2550 (chairman) Address: P.O. Box 456, Nordman, ID 83848 Board meets first Wednesday of the month, usually at 6 p.m. at Copper Bay Construction Company. Board members: chairman Vince Aguirre, Don Pratt, Ken Hagman, Dave Current and Bruce Yocum.

Priest Lake welcomes new district rangerPRIEST LAKE – The Priest Lake

Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest has a new district ranger. Glenn Klingler arrived at Priest Lake Feb. 14 to replace DeWayne Thorn-burgh, who served as a deputy district ranger.

Klingler’s arrival signals a shift in leadership of the Priest Lake Ranger Dis-trict from a deputy district ranger super-vised by the district ranger in Sandpoint to a full district ranger working directly for the forest supervisor.

“I wanted to come to Priest Lake because it feels like a good fit for me,” Klingler said. “I feel fortunate to come to such a beautiful place, and I’m looking forward to working with the local com-munity.”

Klingler comes to North Idaho from the Coronado National Forest in southern Arizona where he served as a wildlife biologist. Klingler is originally

from Ohio where he earned a Bachelor of Science in wildlife management from Ohio State University in 1989.

Klingler has been a wildlife biologist for 21 years while working for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau

of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Washington De-partment of Natural Resources. During his career, he has lived and worked in Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Colorado, Michigan, South Carolina and Arizona.

Klinger

Sled dogs races at Priest LakeMINER PHOTO|PANDI GRUVER

Jill Wilson of Athol and her team of purebred Siberian huskies turned in their fastest time ever in the six-dog sprint class at the Priest Lake Sled Dog Race, held Feb. 5-6 at Priest Lake. The team is pictured here finishing their 5.7-mile run Saturday, Feb. 5.


meadows and wetlands that features an array of rare flora and fauna. It supports several endangered plant species and provides habitat for moose, elk, deer, black bear, westslope cutthroat trout, and eagles, as well as the threatened Selkirk Mountains grizzly population. The project area lies within the Selkirk Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone delineated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Research by state and federal agencies indicates that only 50-60 grizzlies persist in the entire 2,200-square-mile Selkirk Mountain Ecosystem, which includes portions of northern Idaho, northeastern Wash-ington, and southern British Columbia. Observations suggest that at least four and as many as eight Selkirk grizzlies have been using Bismark Meadows for foraging habitat during recent spring seasons.

“The greatest threat to wildlife today is human intru-

sion into their habitat,” Vital Ground’s executive director Gary Wolfe said in a news release. “Our conservation projects in Bismark Meadows provide an increasingly rare wild refuge for imperiled ani-mals and plants in a growing sea of development.”

As the surrounding Selkirk Mountains are often snow-bound until early June, grizzlies must seek food in lower eleva-tions when they emerge from hibernation.

“This makes the meadow-lands vitally important for the bears,” Wolfe said. “Without continued access to these and other low elevation food sources in spring and again in autumn, the Selkirk population may fail.”

The Idaho Panhandle National Forest is planning a forest thinning project in the Bismark Meadows area. The Lakeview-Reeder hazardous fu-els reduction project is on hold while the U.S. Forest Service re-evaluates for certain indicator

species. Conservation groups opposed the project, concerned with how the road building and thinning would affect grizzlies.

There were discrepancies in plans for reducing impact on grizzly bears, as pointed out af-ter a review by the Priest River-based Selkirk Conservation Alliance. The Panhandle Forest has acknowledged the concerns are legitimate and said they will be addressed, according to the Selkirk Conservation Alliance winter newsletter.

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation via the Northwest Wildlife Conservation Initia-tive, Resources Legacy Fund, William H. Donner Foundation and Oberweiler Foundation pro-vided funding for Vital Ground’s land conservation project. Additional support for the organization’s Bismark Mead-ows projects has come from the Wiancko Charitable Trust, Johnson Family Foundation, Qureshi Family Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Rich-ard K. & Shirley S. Hemingway

Foundation, First Interstate Bank, First Interstate BancSys-tem Foundation, and numerous individual donors.

The organization is explor-ing opportunities to partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to complete habitat restoration and enhancement activities on Vital Ground’s Bismark Mead-ows holdings during upcoming years.

The Vital Ground Foundation is a tax-exempt, publicly sup-ported charitable organization working to ensure the recov-ery and long-term survival of grizzly bears, together with the many native species that share their range, through the protection and restoration of core habitats and landscape linkages. Since its founding in 1990, Vital Ground has helped to protect and enhance nearly 600,000 acres of habitat cru-cial to grizzly and other wildlife in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska, and British Columbia.

GRIZZLY | FROM PAGE 1

Bush administration rescinded the rule and allowed states to petition the U.S. Forest Service to develop rules to manage roadless areas with variations as opposed to the blanket regu-lation in the Clinton Rule.

“I believe this decision closes the chapter on a 40-year con-troversy and validates a new model for resolving natural re-source issues across the West,” Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter said in a news release.

Idaho’s plan was developed after 16 public meetings and thousands of comments by Ida-hoans. Its management themes

include: wild land recreation, primitive, backcountry, and general forest, plus a “special areas” category to preserve important tribal and historical sites.

“The themes developed represent the diversity that is found within the areas defined as roadless,” Risch said. “Rather than a one-size-fits-all plan that changes with each new admin-istration, we have a plan that will manage these areas not only for forest health, but for people to hunt, fish, hike and for motorized users on appropriate parcels. This is a common sense approach that benefits the land and all Idahoans.”

FROM PAGE 1

ROADLESS | Planning commission approves broadband tower

SANDPOINT – The Bonner County Planning Commis-sion approved a broadband tower at Priest Lake during its regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Planning director Clare Marley said the board ap-proved the conditional use permit unanimously.

Public comment came from one neighbor who was concerned about her view, Marley said. The decision is final unless appealed. In that case, it would go before the county commissioners.

Jeff Berglund and Brian

Seymour sought the permit to install the lattice-type tower for broadband, high-speed Internet service. The site is zoned Suburban and is located about 25 miles north of Priest River, west of High-way 57 off Williams Drive and Lark Lane in Section 36, Township 60 North, Range 5 West, B.M.

The tower will be located on Lot 1 of Lark Lane Plat. Construction and access roads would be placed on Lots 1 and 2 of Lark Lane and Lot 3, Block 2 of Green Acres 1st Addition.


Priest Lake’s Portait ExpertKeith Currie Photography

www.keithcurriephoto.com • 509-294-4078 by appointment only

Priest RiverHeating & Cooling

• Service • Gas Piping• Remodels

• New Install • Fireplaces & Stoves

• Venting & Duct Systems

(208) 448-1923

Serving the Priest Lake Area

Northern Lakes Dock & Barge

DOCKS -NEW & REBUILDPILE DRIVINGWATER FRONT ENHANCEMENTRIPRAP/ SAND & GRAVELCRANE WORKBARGE SERVICE

Kevin Hansen(208) 437-2004 • (208) 290-2319

North Idaho Security

Business & Residential

Serving Priest Lake for over 15 years

(208) 443-3309email: [email protected]

Chimney Rock ChroniclesNow Available

FREE Online At:pendoreillerivervalley.com

“The last dock you’ll ever need!”

SELF FLOATING DOCK SYSTEMS

KNIGHT EZ DOCKDeer Park, WA1-800-654-8168www.ezdock.com

Contact your authorized EZ Dock & Sunstream Boat Lift Dealer Today

Call for a Site SurveyDock Installation and Maintenance

PWC PortsCustom Ramp Fabrication

Sporting GoodsClothing • Shoes

Toys • Gifts • CraftsGreeting Cards

Household Goods

“Our Variety Shows”

Ben Franklin208-437-4822 • Oldtown, Idaho

Mon.-Sat. 9-7 • Sun. 10-6


PHOENIXCONSTRUCTION

“Quality at A� ordable Prices”

(208) 290-3866 • Barneywww.phoenixconstructioncollc.net

Terrene Mack, Broker

208-443-6052 Office208-610-3634 Cell208-906-8551 FAX

When it’s time to enjoy the rustic luxury of Idaho’s Crown Jewel,Priest Lake Realty has the intimate knowledge to guide you to your personal paradise.

www.DiscoverPriestLake.com

DEEDED - Waterfront on the Outlet of Priest Lake. Large home, lots of garage

space, hot tub and nicely landscaped

$749,900 $595,000$212,000 $198,500

EXCEPTIONAL VALUE - DEEDED waterfront 2 bed/1.5

bath 50x286, sandy beach!

Totally turn key home only a quick trail to the lake! This 3bd/2bth home is completely furnished to the max and features a large entertaining deck and a 2 car attached garage.

Price to sell on Kalispell Bay Rd. Large Mfd home & huge shop

WhenReal

t Lake dise


PRIEST LAKE ELECTRICPRIEST LAKE ELECTRICYour Local Full Service Electrician

New Construction & Remodels

Residential & Commercial

Call us for all your Electrical needsServing all of North Idaho

208-443-6075 or 208-597-2225

LISENCED & BONDED • INSURED • LIC# C293611

[email protected] www.ElkinsResort.com

CALL FOR DETAILS

208.443.2432

SPRING CABINS 50% OFF

RESTAURANT RE-OPENS APRIL 30TH

Lance von Marbod, Property Specialist

Licensed in both WA & ID

Can help with all your Real Estate needs in the Priest Lake, Priest River & Surrounding Areas

509-990-8241 Cell888-449-2771 [email protected]

(509) 466-7107 • (509) 981-3600 (cell) Spokane(208) 687-9333 • (208) 755-5213 (cell) Idaho

Thirteen years ago we introduced poly docks to the Northwest. Now we’ve moved up to “ShoreMaster”

Sandstone Colored Patio Look

4 Times Better Dock• Better looking Sand

Stone Color• More stable in water• Sturdier Deck Surface• Better Design Feature

4’6’8’10’• More stable (w/uncle Harold’s) anchoring system“Included for the same cost”


PROUDLY SERVING YOU SINCE 1990

Your Full Service Home Center520 Hwy 2, Oldtown, Idaho • (208) 437-3153 • (800) 676-3153

We’re proud to be a supplier of quality local timber & building products

B & D Construction, Inc

30 Tweedie Road, Blanchard • 208-437-4121

New ConstructionRemodeling

Trex Pro Deck Installers

Kennedy’sPlumbingInc.

Serving North IdahoCommercial & Residential

New Construction RemodelService & Repair

208-443-0250 • Licensed • Bonded • Insured


Next To The Oldtown Bridge, Oldtown, Idaho

(208) 437-5669“YOUR HOMETOWN DIFFERENCE”

$2299gal.

$2499gal.

$25.99$25.99$26.99

$26.99$27.99

Pick Your ColorPrep Your WallsPaint Your Place

• Exquisite Floral Design

Volunteers Needed!West Priest Lake Fire District needs permanent and part time resident volunteers.

For more information contact Chief Ventress (208) 443-2889

FloralTraditions

208-448-2611 • 866-973-7673Timberling Shopping Center

1204 W. Albeni Hwy • Priest River

Weddings, Tuxedo Rentals, Flowers, Plants, Gifts, Spokandy Chocolates,

Balloons, & Delivery

YOUR LOCAL FULL SERVICE FLORIST

RETURN ADDRESS:The MinerP.O. Box 349Newport, WA 99156

Reproduction of articles & photographs is prohibited without permission from The Newport and Gem State Miner publisher.

Chimney Rock ChroniclesMarch 2011

LifeStyle Real Estate

Real Estate sales at Priest Lake have surpassed the limits this year!

If you are considering selling,

give us a call. . . .

LIFESTYLE REAL ESTATEPriest Lake Exclusively! Lisa Thaler208-443-2634 208-661-3154 (Cell)[email protected] www.priestlake.com

www.copperbayconstruction.com(208) 443-2193 • Fax (208) 443-2841799 Hagman Road, Norman, ID 83848

A trusted name in building for over 30 years

• custom home building• conscientious site development• renovations

• design assistance• marine construction

Accommdations rented weekly and nightly.Call 208-443-2551 • Visit www.hillsresort.com

Visit our lake cam daily

65 years of Excellence • 1946 - 2011C e l e b r a t e w i t h u s !

Mother’s Day WeekendFather’s Day WeekendJune 26th Hill’s Priest Lake Golf TournamentJuly 4th Fireworks in Luby Bay

Wednesdays July and AugustSushi Night and Mike WagonerKidstock - July 17th

Priest lake Yacht Club BBQ - Sept. 4Restaurant opens daily May 13th for 2011 season

Chimney Rock March 2011

Documents

Transcript of Chimney Rock March 2011