River RAT Recap: Nez Perce Clearwater Workshop in McCall

Idaho River United was joined by Friends of the Clearwater at Salmon River Brewery in McCall for a River RAT Workshop (River Advocacy Training) last Thursday, February 20th. Over 20 people attended the workshop, which included an overview of the proposed Nez Perce Clearwater Forest Plan/Environmental Impact Statement and tips for engaging in advocacy. 

Once finalized, the management plan will guide the national forest’s protection, management, and recovery efforts for at least the next 15 years. The draft plan is nearly 2000 pages long and is comprised of four proposed strategies for management, each with different levels of protection and goals for recovery. 

Brett Haverstick of Friends of the Clearwater provided a thorough overview of the proposed forest plan, covering many of the potential impacts on habitat, wildlife, resources management, and waterways. Reese, IRU Conservation Associate, discussed the major changes in river protections in the drafted plan, which will determine management and protection for 1460 rivers and streams. 

Under the current management plan, which was established in 1987, 29 rivers are recognized as “eligible” for Wild & Scenic Suitability studies. Eligibility status is a crucial first step in federal protection for rivers under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. Management strategies proposed in the plan range from increasing protections by adding an additional 8 rivers to the “eligible” list, to major reductions in protections by delisting all rivers within the management area from “eligible” status. Delisting the rivers would eliminate protections for the 29 waterways currently listed as ‘“eligible” within the plan.  

Potential impacts on anadromous fish were discussed by IRU’s Conservation Associate Stephen. Rivers within the management area provide some of the most pristine spawning habitats for ESA listed fish species in the Columbia River Basin. Some rivers within the management area are considered climate change ‘sanctuaries’, meaning that as global temperatures rise, these areas will be largely insulated from impacts and serve as a vital refuge for many species. Proposed changes in the plan could compromise the integrity of those areas and increase susceptibility to diversions, damming, and other impacts and uses. 

Overall, one of the biggest concerns of the forest plan is a lack of quantifiable standards. The current forest plan has specific, measurable, science-based goals for recovery and management - which the new proposed plan largely lacks. Data-driven and research-based standards are essential for a healthy river and land management. If this plan is approved, it could set a precedent for forest plans throughout the country to be developed without quantifiable standards, relying instead on subjective parameters for determining natural resources management within our National Forests. 

Public Comment for the Nez-Perce Clearwater Forest Plan is open until April 30th. To read the forest plan, CLICK HERE

To comment on the forest plan: visit the second page of the“Reviewer’s Guide to Commenting”, and click the link under “How to Comment” :  CLICK HERE