June 9, 2001 Missoulian article by Sherry Devlin: Roads will be closed to protect grizzlies.

To protect grizzly bears from human intruders, Plum Creek Timber Co. and the Montana Department of Natural Resources soon will install gates on three road systems in the Swan River Valley.

CAG Comment

CAG believes there is plenty of evidence that contradicts the reason given above.  The environmentalists have managed to capture federal land and resource management agencies and in addition the federal government has made agreements with private industry [the industry believes it will be allowed to flourish -- there is some doubt about that] and state land and resource management agencies through the vehicle of promising financial aid from the federal level if the agency will only "fall in line with the federal dream" of a socialist state.

We should return to the THREE LEGGED STOOL!

End CAG Comment

The intent is "not to keep the public out, but to balance levels of motorized and non-motorized access for grizzly bear security," said Bob Sandman, manager of the Swan River State Forest.

Within three weeks, the state will put gates on the Cilly Creek Road, Soup Creek Road and Woodward Point Road. Plum Creek will install two new gates that will affect access to state lands on South Woodward Road, Section 29, T23N, R18W, and on South Woodward Road, Section 25, T23N, R18W.

The closure on Section 251s seasonal; the road will be closed during the spring and open in summer and fall.

Sandman said the closures are needed to comply with the Swan Valley grizzly bear conservation agreement, entered into in 1995 by the state, Plum Creek, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.