PO Box 1175 (5530 North Montana) • Helena, MT 59624
406-458-0227 (phone) • 406-458-0373 (fax) • www.montanawildlife.com

Upper Missouri River Breaks
National Monument Update
By Larry Copenhaver, Conservation Director

From: Montana Wildlife
A Publication of the Montana Wildlife Federation
Volume 27 • Number 4 • June/July 2003

Designing the management guidelines for the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument is a critical process that establishes rules the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must enforce to ensure the future integrity of this wildlife paradise.

As you may recall, MWF has been encouraging all members to send comments to the BLM during the scoping phase of the management process, so that the important issues to hunters, anglers and all outdoor recreationists were identified for the purpose of developing a resource-based Resource Management Plan for the Monument.

Public input on how we want our Monument managed is mandatory for the BLM to determine on the ground regulations. BLM has a multiple use mandate, but without input from you, sportspeople and conservationists, Monument plans may be developed that favor non-wildlife interests instead.
BLM’s Planning Process goes through 6 phases:

• The Notice of Intent starts the Scoping Phase mentioned above.
• A Draft Plan/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement is prepared; Included in this phase is: Inventory of resources; develop alternative management schemes so that the various interest groups and resources are addressed estimating the effects of each alternative; and finally, develop a “Preferred” alternative which denotes BLM’s priorities.
  ÿDraft Plan/EIS is released; comment by the public is solicited and compiled.
• Proposed Plan/Final EIS is prepared.
• Proposed Plan/ Final EIS is released.
• Record of Decision Released of Approved Plan.

Presently, the planning process is in its second stage where alternatives are being written to address the resources and concerns of the public.

BLM will host workshops and open houses across northern Montana to assist you, the stakeholder, to connect with the resource specialists who will then develop alternatives. Public notices are required by law for these workshops. It is important for the public to watch for these workshops in your local paper, attend and provide comment.

MWF has been visible during all past and current phases of the Planning process. As a participating organization, MWF presented scoping comments that requested the BLM ensure public hunting opportunities, discouraged exclusive, private use of public land, encouraged a travel plan that addressed habitat fragmentation for deer, elk and bighorn sheep, and a rule structure that limits OHV use to legal public roads and highways.

MWF partnered with the Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument on May 17 to sponsor a seminar entitled “The Future of Hunting in the Missouri Breaks” designed to give sportsmen and sportswomen a forum to engage agency personnel including BLM, USFWS and FWP on their plans for this unique area. Individuals and organizations from all ends of Montana attended this function held in the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls.

From ranchers to hunters, many diverse interests found common ground in their concern for the Missouri Breaks. Most of the 63 attendees expressed a desire for a balance when developing plans for the Breaks and found a willing ear in the agency representatives. Throughout the public scoping meeting phase Gary Slagel, BLM Monument Manager, has often expressed the sentiment “Keep us honest!”…MWF hopes to do just that.

MWF will continue in its efforts to assure that wildlife, wildlife habitat, and the related public recreation interests are preserved and protected in the Monument, but we can use your help. Public oversight is essential so that the monument retains its value as a wildlife paradise.

An MWF ‘Issues and Answers’ paper discussing the fish, wildlife and recreation values in the Monument and other information is available by contacting Larry Copenhaver at MWF at (406)-458-0227 or email your request to: lcopenhaver@mtwf.org.