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BITTERROOT ECOSYSTEM SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE IGBC
June 22, 2007, 0930 PDT—1500 PDT
POWELL, IDAHO
Attending: Tom Reilly (Chair), Jim Claar, Vivaca Crowser, Mike Demick, Ellen Davis, Julie Schreck, Steve Nadeau, Mack long, Dave Campbell, Damien Miller, Chris Servheen, Sterling Miller, Jay Crenshaw, MaryAnn High, Kurt Nelson
Telephone: Minette Johnson, Melany Glossa
REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 2006 MEETING - Approved
Agenda Review - Other topics: Big picture update on grizzly bear management plans and sanitation portable electric fences.
SANITATION ISSUES
Any and all topics related to sanitation issues such as use of bear-resistent containers, placement and maintenance of dumpsters
Sterling: Most of the sanitation sites in good shape other than the backcountry. Four grants from NFF grant starting 6 yrs. Over $200K from NFF with partners including MFWP, IDFG, Defenders of Wildlife. Most of the high priority sites along Hwy 12 corridor have been completed. Looking at 007 ranch today with MaryAnn High – there are three open top dumpsters between highway and river. Will be working with Simmons Sanitation Company to fence area. Major workload emphasis has been in the Cabinet-Yaak. Biggest need in Bitterroot Ecosystem is getting sanitation in the backcountry. There has been agency resistance to putting permanent structures in the Wilderness. The least intrusive means is food poles. Strongly encourages Forest Service to allow, through Forest Plan Revision, food poles in Wilderness. If folks have priority sanitation sites to address with this year, let Sterling know today $10-25K grant monies available.
Minnette: Need to start investing long-term solutions e.g. waste transfer sites, because of public use of individual dumpsters is problematic. People have some difficultly using these dumpsters.
Jim: Have not addressed bear poles in Forest Planning. Have not consistently looked at options across the ecosystem.
Tom: Need to discuss with FS managers on dealing with wilderness issues on food storage.
TASK: Tom will get this idea in front of Selway Bitterroot Wilderness line officers for consideration.
Mack: How necessary is it to use human food attractants for bear-baiting (grease, sugar)?
Steve: No studies showing that human foods as bait condition bears. Would like to see graduate study on baiting and conditioning bears. May be strong opposite effects.
Mack: Great idea to do study. Seems contradictory to allow baiting and promoting food storage.
Chris: By not allowing grizzly bear hunting, logically follows that baiting with human food substances would condition grizzly bear to human food.
Sterling: Suggests the primary emphasis is to reduce attractants where people congregate. Focus on campgrounds, high use recreation sites, etc.
Chris: May be difficult to design a study. Suggests designing a study comparing non-consumptive lure with human foods to determine baiting effectiveness.
Mack: It is difficult to justify argument to attract bears with baiting and promote food storage. Just asking if there is an opportunity to use bait other than human food.
Steve: When working with outfitters on bear sanitation, finding logistical difficulties with FS managers on wilderness regulations. Would like to explore availability of bear proof containers that will contain coolers and stock feed.
Mack: There may be some of this equipment available.
Steve: Bear encounters by river recreation folks are frequent also.
Crenshaw: May be time to update the Living with Predator guide on food storage.
Decision on How to Apply the $6000 I&E grant received from IGBC
Tom: Introduce Funds request ($6,000) on sanitation
Steve: Purchase demonstration storage equipment and provide training to outfitter and guides.
Mack: Key is to have purchased all demo equipment, approx. $3k. Could have it on Forest Service districts.
Steve: Could have backcountry rangers and State agency personnel working in backcountry using this equipment – set an example in backcountry. Also, may ask manufactures to do demos at outfitters and guides meetings.
Tom: Should have agency personnel using equipment. Could get smaller group to decide on purchasing and distributing equipment to FS.
Steve: Would need 2 good outfits.
Mack: May need 10 equip sets.
Jim: Working w/ engineers to design bear box for 4-wheelers.
TASK: Dave will work with Mack and Steve to make recommendation to purchase equipment for the $6k available this year. Proposal due to Tom July 27th. Julie will assist.
The message is providing safety for people and bears. The Bitterroot Ecosystem has an opportunity to be proactive in establishing sanitation practices prior to establishment of grizzly bear pop.
Steve: Forest Service outfitter and guide meetings would be the place to contact outfitters.
Mack: Ellen, when are next years proposals due?
Ellen: Request for I&E proposals this Dec. and due in Jan.
Sterling: Willing to work with IGBC in developing and publishing information brochures.
THE BIG PICTURE
Bear movements, sightings in the periphery of the Bitterroot Ecosystem—Chris Servheen
One collared Montana bear moved 60 miles. Another 70 mi. Radius of movement distance overlaps Bitterroot Ecosystem. One unconfirmed sighting in northern end of Bitterroot Ecosystem. Strong possibility of bears entering the Bitterroot Ecosystem soon. Upper NF Clearwater, Kelly Cr country is good bear habitat. Very likely bears will be moving into northern end of the Bitterroot Ecosystem. The longer managers wait, the likelihood that the management option under section 10(j) will not be available. In that situation, agencies would be doing section 7 consultation.
Yellowstone delisting and other recovery news—Chris Servheen
Delisted Distinct Population Segment (DPS) April 30, 2007. 200,000 comments received on published rule. Rule being litigated. Pop has been increasing 4% to 7% per year. Forest plans amended to incorporate conservation actions detailed in conservation strategy (no increase in road density, etc).
Update on Habitat Linkage workshop and May IGBC Meeting—Chris Servheen
Workshop was held in June. Chris will send to IGBC website address for presentations and minutes.
5-Year Review - Chris
Yellowstone DPS published rule states USFWS will evaluate remaining pops (recovery units) which includes Bitterroot Ecosystem. USFWS plans to organize process to answer DPS questions. This process will look at genetic relatedness between pops (DPS policy question), and significance of range and habitats available. One of the important questions – “…does Bitterroot Ecosystem contain a significant portion of grizzly bear range?” Agency partners will be nominated and invited to participate in process and analysis.
Steps in 5-year review process:
Establish DPS areas
Apply 5 factor analysis listing criteria to each DPS
Decision on status of each DPS and proposal on recovery unit boundaries
Expected 5-year review to Federal Register by end of 2008.
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
Introduction of the I&E Subcommittee
Review of IGBC I&E Charter, review/approve draft Charter for the BES Subcommittee I&E, review/approve draft BES I&E Subcommittee Plan
Report out by Julie on IGBC I&E Committee Activities
Tom: Charter from parent committee (handout)
Julie is chair of Bitterroot Ecosystem I&E subcommittee. Members include Mike Demick, Damien Miller, and Vivaca Crowser.
Vivaca: Attended May 22 meeting with reps from all IGBC I&E subcommittees. Action items for Bitterroot Ecosystem I&E subcommittee:
Write a short description of Bitterroot ecosystem for posting on the website;
Inform Ellen of meeting dates Bitterroot Ecosystem IGBC for posting on the website;
Minutes of Bitterroot Ecosystem IGBC meetings to Ellen for posting on the website;
I&E subcommittee inventory of the I&E resources available;
Accomplishment report of I&E tasks in progress by December, reported to Julie
Funding is discussed and resolved.
Tom: I&E Plan 2007 distributed handouts.
Tasks:
1) Bitterroot Ecosystem IGBC members are to review I&E Charter, especially the last page which lists tasks. May need to update this task list. Edit and add I&E Products or Activities. Comments back to Julie by July 27, 2007.
2) Program of work. Steve will continue to summarize sanitation actions accomplished. Julie will pull together I&E accomplishment reports for November 2007 meeting review.
I&E Plan – Discussion
Steve: Goals, may be sensitive issue with legal issue and peoples attitudes regarding grizzly bear in the Bitterroot Ecosystem. Are the goal statements still current? Does the I&E plan include a task to plan for the eventual presence of grizzly bear in the Bitterroot Ecosystem?
Chris: Suggests protocol development for the eventual presence of grizzly bear in the Bitterroot Ecosystem. Suggests a Fact Sheet that describes: What does it means when bears do appear in the Bitterroot Ecosystem?
Task: Add to I&E subcommittee plan: develop communication plan and talking points addressing grizzly bear recovery scenario in Bitterroot Ecosystem. Chris and Steve to lead this recovery scenario communication product. Sterling offers assistance. Due date: July 27, 2007.
Chris: Change statement from “Conduct survey on current public attitudes toward natural recolonization and reintroduction.” To “…evaluate current public attitudes toward natural recolonization and reintroduction.”
Sterling: Suggests that “bear identification,” may not be necessary to focus on identification at this time.
Tom: IGBC December 11 and 12; about one hour presentation by chairman. Fall meeting used to prepare for this meeting
Next Meeting: November 13, 2007, 10:00 a.m. at Moose Creek Ranger Station (aka Fenn RS on the Selway River) – MaryAnn to make arrangements.
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