Forest Jobs and Recreation Act

Montana's forest communities face a crisis.

Our local sawmills are on the brink and families are out of work while our forests turn red from an unprecedented outbreak of pine beetles, waiting for the next big wildfire. It's a crisis that demands action now.

That's why I wrote the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. It's a common-sense bill that will create jobs in Montana's forests, keep communities safe, protect clean water and safeguard Montana's hunting and fishing habitat for future generations.

The Forest Jobs Bill is the product of the hard work of Montanans from all walks of life. It comes from hunters, hikers and anglers, loggers and conservationists, snowmobilers and trail riders.

It will create timber jobs by requiring the Forest Service to manage a certain number of acres each year for timber harvest -- especially areas infected by pine-beetles that pose a serious wildfire threat to Montana communities and their drinking water sources. The bill also requires the Forest Service to put folks to work on projects that help repair our valuable watersheds and improve big game habitat.

The Forest Jobs Bill will also guarantee access for motorized recreation, hunting, camping and fishing. It will keep some of Montana's prized backcountry wild. And it will make sure that Montana's pure water will stay clean forever.

The Forest Jobs and Recreation Act is a smart, home-grown plan. It is a result of Montanans working together to create jobs and to keep our backcountry and clean water an important part of our outdoor heritage.

I encourage all Montanans to take a look at this legislation. You can also sign up as a citizen cosponsor to do your part to put your shoulder to the wheel in the push to get this done.

Click here to join the team by becoming a Citizen Cosponsor of the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act.

As we move forward, I look forward to sharing this legislation with all Montanans. I encourage them to support this important Forest Jobs Bill for our future. And as always, I look forward to hearing feedback.

By working together, we will create jobs. We will create new opportunities for recreation. We will protect Montana's clean water. We will protect our communities from wildfire. And we will keep Montana's fishing, hunting and hiking habitat around for our kids and grandkids.

Jon Tester
United States Senator

Definitions

Forest Restoration Jobs
Jobs in forest restoration are jobs that aren't necessarily related to timber harvest, but require similar "in the woods" work, such as road improvements and road removal, harvesting biomass material, wildfire mitigation, and cleanup.

Stewardship
This is a general term that refers to the overall management of our forest lands -- not just conservation, but also common-sense management of those lands, including responsible, timber harvest and recreation.

Watershed
This term applies to waterways (streams and rivers) and also the sources of Montana's waterways (snowcapped mountains, springs, alpine lakes, etc.)

Watershed Restoration
This is "in the woods work" to strengthen and protect Montana's clean water by improving water culverts, fixing roads that are slipping into streams, improving drainage along roads and more.

Wilderness
Wilderness is prime hunting and fishing habitat. It can be National Park Service or BLM land, but it is usually Forest Service land. There are a few rules for wilderness: no engines, no wheels, no buildings (which protects the source of Montana's clean water) but guns, rods, and hiking boots are welcome.

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Follows U.S. Forest Service plan for where timber harvest can occur (1.9 million acres)
Mandates that the agency harvest an average of at least 7,000 acres per year for ten years within those boundaries as part of a series of broader restoration projects.
Creates areas that the Forest Service must manage for recreation, including snowmobiling.
Solves the long-standing BLM Wilderness Study Area debate by following the BLM's recommendation to create five BLM wilderness areas and release seven Wilderness Study Areas. Currently those twelve Wilderness Study Areas are not official wilderness areas but have been managed as if they are wilderness. This proposal allows the lands not designated to be opened up to other uses, such as timber harvest and recreation.
Designates roughly 505,000 acres of wilderness on Forest Service lands.
Designates roughly 59,000 acres of wilderness on BLM land and releases 76,000 acres on BLM land.

Three Rivers District of the Kootenai National Forest

Follows U.S. Forest Service plan for where timber harvest can occur.
Mandates that the agency harvest an average of at least 3,000 acres per year for ten years as part of a series of broader restoration projects of at least 50,000 acres.
Creates the Three Rivers Special Management Area, which encompasses separate motorized and non-motorized areas.
Directs the Forest Service to conduct a study of potential ATV routes.
Designates 30,000 acres of wilderness at Roderick Mountain.

Seeley Lake District of the Lolo National Forest

Follows U.S. Forest Service plan for where timber harvest can occur.
Allows for collaborative group to guide large, landscape level forest management and restoration projects.
Puts aside an area for snowmobiling use until the next revision of the Lolo Forest Plan.
Designates 83,000 acres of Wilderness as addition to the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Mission Mountain Wilderness.

Bill Text and Maps

The Forest Jobs and Recreation Act

Letter from Secretary Vilsack regarding the Act

Senate Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies FY 2013 Draft

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Proposed Wilderness and Recreation Areas

Anaconda-Pintler
Dolus Lakes
East Pioneers
Electric Peak
Highlands
Italian Peaks
Lee Metcalf
Lima Peaks
Lost Creek
Mount Jefferson
Quigg Peak
Sapphires
Snowcrests
Stony Mountain
Tobacco Roots
West Big Hole
West Pioneers

BLM Areas in Southwest Montana

Blacktail Mountains
Centennial Mountains
East Fork Blacktail
Humbug Spires
Ruby Mountains

Motorized Use

Roads and Trails
Winter Motorized Use

Seeley Lake Ranger District, Lolo National Forest

Proposed Wilderness and Recreation Areas

Seeley Lake Wilderness Additions and Otatsy National Recreation Area

Three Rivers Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest

Proposed Wilderness and Recreation Areas

Three Rivers Special Management Area and Roderick Wilderness

Proposed Changes

Sen. Tester proposes the following changes to the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. These changes are based on feedback he has received from Montanans since he introduced the bill on July 17, 2009. This is not an exhaustive list and Senator Tester continues to consider ideas.

News & Views

Tester's bill can break logjam on forest policy
Marc Racicot

Tester's wilderness bill deserves Montanans' support
Pat Williams

Collaboration behind Tester bill should propel it to passage
Ed Regan

A welcome change
Rick Bass