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The fight over preserving public land takes a twist in Montana’s mountains

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Re: The fight over preserving public land takes a twist in Montana’s mountains

#21

Post by clumsysmurf »

barsonme wrote: post #13
hellogoodbyeeee wrote: post #3

I feel pretty passionately about protecting national land. Are there any recommendations on how to best support it? I don't live near any federal lands and I'm generally don't trust lobbyist groups. Should I be donating to the Sierra Club? Or are there other alternatives?

Other than using the federal lands more _and_ contacting your representatives (via phone!!) to express your support for keeping public federal lands, yes, donate. While your money probably won't be ill-spent with your run-of-the-mill environmental groups, I'd really recommend searching out right-leaning groups that support public federal lands, like the American Conservation Coalition ( https://acc.eco ). Sadly, the…

They have a different definition of environmentalism

“True environmentalism, from my perspective, is using natural resources that God has blessed us with,” Pruitt told the Heritage Foundation last week.

Re: The fight over preserving public land takes a twist in Montana’s mountains

#22

Post by njarboe »

As a research geologist, working in the western US has generally been great because of so much easy access to a large amount of public land. But, over the last 5 years or so, I have noticed more ranchers gating off roads going through their land. This is especially annoying when they have a small in-holding in a national forest or BLM land and the road that has been used for over 100 years is now blocked. Most times there is a new (closed, but not locked(that would be illegal)) gate and a big sign that says no trespassing.

One can legally open the gate and use the road and it won't be trespassing, but most people won't know this. Even if you think you are in the right in going onto someones land, confronting an armed rancher is something most people will not risk doing. I generally don't. It would be nice if there were signs that made it clear that it is legal to pass through such gates, but I imagine they would be removed by the ranchers immediately. I'm glad at least some forest service employees are pushing back on this practice.

Re: The fight over preserving public land takes a twist in Montana’s mountains

#24

Post by cbcoutinho »

kharms wrote: post #17
barsonme wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other than using the federal lands more _and_ contacting your representatives (via phone!!) to express your support for keeping public federal lands, yes, donate. While your money probably won't be ill-spent with your run-of-the-mill environmental groups, I'd really recommend searching out right-leaning groups that support public federal lands, like the American Conservation Coalition ( https://acc.eco ). Sadly, the…

Why do you recommend seeking out right-leaning groups?

I would recommend right-leaning groups as well, but that's mostly because of the hunting communities are usually associated with the actual 'use' of public lands, and have been supporting most of the ecological/wildlife research. There's recently been a big push towards historically sustainable wildlife systems, and that's a topic that resonates with most of the more conservative hunting communities.

Re: The fight over preserving public land takes a twist in Montana’s mountains

#25

Post by switchbak »

hellogoodbyeeee wrote: post #3

I feel pretty passionately about protecting national land. Are there any recommendations on how to best support it? I don't live near any federal lands and I'm generally don't trust lobbyist groups. Should I be donating to the Sierra Club? Or are there other alternatives?

I don't live in the USA, so I don't really have skin in the game on this issue. I did however want to point out that the Sierra Club has long held a strong anti-mountain biking advocacy position.

To each their own of course, but I'd rather support more inclusive groups.

Re: The fight over preserving public land takes a twist in Montana’s mountains

#26

Post by barsonme »

davidw wrote: post #18
barsonme wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other than using the federal lands more _and_ contacting your representatives (via phone!!) to express your support for keeping public federal lands, yes, donate. While your money probably won't be ill-spent with your run-of-the-mill environmental groups, I'd really recommend searching out right-leaning groups that support public federal lands, like the American Conservation Coalition ( https://acc.eco ). Sadly, the…

Interesting. What kinds of things has your group accomplished? I'm not a conservative, but the Sierra Club will never see a dime from me until they lay off mountain bikers. It seems so stupid to antagonize a group that could share about 99% of what they want to accomplish.

We have a few different ways we're approaching this. In no particular order we:

1) Work with college republicans to introduce them to environmentalism. We saw lots of success here during National Clean Energy Week where we held events and had 20 CR chairs sign on to our clean energy pledge (https://www.acc.eco/cr-clean-energy-coalition) and we have 25 pilot campuses we're partnering with. We hope to more than double that number next year.

2) Are growing the climate solutions caucus. We've met with members of congress and support those who are pro-environment.

3) Have a policy newsletter with policy research

4) Work with city and county county officials to assist with their environmental policy. (This one has been my favorite to watch take off.)

and plenty more.

Re: The fight over preserving public land takes a twist in Montana’s mountains

#28

Post by Alex3917 »

hellogoodbyeeee wrote: post #3

I feel pretty passionately about protecting national land. Are there any recommendations on how to best support it? I don't live near any federal lands and I'm generally don't trust lobbyist groups. Should I be donating to the Sierra Club? Or are there other alternatives?

> Are there any recommendations on how to best support it?

If you want a fun project, you can grab a kayak and a GoPro in order to prove that a river is navigable, which enables legal access up to the ordinary high water mark.

Re: The fight over preserving public land takes a twist in Montana’s mountains

#29

Post by googlryas »

njarboe wrote: post #22

As a research geologist, working in the western US has generally been great because of so much easy access to a large amount of public land. But, over the last 5 years or so, I have noticed more ranchers gating off roads going through their land. This is especially annoying when they have a small in-holding in a national forest or BLM land and the road that has been used for over 100 years is now blocked. Most times…

Should it be illegal to put up 'no trespassing' signs when there is clearly a longstanding public easement?

Re: The fight over preserving public land takes a twist in Montana’s mountains

#30

Post by takk309 »

I live in Bozeman and have made many trips to the Crazy Mountains over the years and can say that this article hits the nail on the head. This isn't just an issue in the Crazies either. Almost every mountain range in the region has some sort of land access issue. In the Bridger Range, just west of the Crazies, the Forest Service choose to reroute a trail to avoid a legal battle. Other examples include places that the trail cuts across the corner of someones land for 10 to 20 feet, yet the land owner gates off access. It is a shame that wealthy land owners are able to buy their way into closing these trails through the threat of expensive litigation.
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