sland Park Preservation Coalition
Working Group
Minutes of Meeting
April 20, 2017
The Island Park Preservation Coalition held a working group meeting on Thursday, April 20, 2017, in the EMS Building in Island Park, Idaho. The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Ken Watts at 6:05 p.m. The following people attended the meeting:
Committee Members:
Ken Watts, Chairman
Alynn Crapo, IPPC Website Administrator
Leanne Yancey, IPPC Research
Greg Bitter, Vice Chairman
Kathy Rinaldi, Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Joe Sielinsky, IP Sustainable Fire
Ann Anthony, Island Park News
Connie Funkhouser, IP Business/IPPC Fund Raising/IP Trails Project
Zak Miller, Idaho Farm Bureau
Judy Koehly, Secretary
Members Absent:
Terry Delong, Treasurer
Dale Swensen, HFWC
Trent Yancey, Fall River Cooperative
Ellen Stantus, IP Landowner and Facilitator
Bob Stantus, IP Landowner and Recreation
Dave Moore, IP Medical Community
Kim Trotter, Yellowstone 2 Yukon
Rosemary Thompson, IPPC Fund Raising
Perry Thompson, National Park Service, retired
Luke Davis, Agriculture and Ranching
John Stiehl, Fishing, Trouthunter
Brandon Hoffner, HFWC
Glade Gunnell, IP Business
Hal Buster, FC Ranching
Kevin Phillips, summer and winter recreation
Knowledge Experts Present:
Jordan Stoddard, Fremont County Chairman
LeRoy Miller, Fremont County Chairman
Liz Davy, United States Forest Service
John Hoehne, Staff for Senator Crapo
Mitch Silvers, Staff for Senator Crapo
Bryce Fowler, Fremont County
Interested Parties:
Candace Vroman
Bill Vroman
Bill Ruppel
Patsy Watts
Minutes: The Minutes for the March meeting were brought before the working group. Joe Sielinski and Leanne Yancey had made comments prior to the meeting.
Financial: Treasurer Terry DeLong has had surgery and was unable to attend the meeting. Ken Watts reported that the most recent bank statement had a balance of $3,976.19.
Current Events
Four members of our working group attended the High Divide Collaborative Meeting in Dillon, Montana. Two hundred people attended the conference. There were four different tables with different subjects. Greg Bitter led a discussion on motorized access in the High Divide. Zak Miller made a presentation on ranching challenges in the High Divide. Zak also led a panel discussion on The Benefits of Sustaining Working Rnches in the High Divide. Kathy Rinaldi gave a presentation on recreation inventory and activity in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Greg Bitter reported that there were good discussions with people from Montana, the USFS and the BLM regarding use of ATVs during the hunting season. There is always the issue of a few people not staying on the trails. Greg presented information regarding the financial impact of motorized recreation in Idaho and Montana. Greg shared information on what we do here in Southeast Idaho. Liz Davy commented that we have a good trail system. Liz said that some areas are good for ATVs and others are not. The group discussed the use of color coded maps for ATV and UTV trails.
Zak Miller reported that he learned a lot at the conference. Zak said that we are all different and we need to work together for the greater good. Zak said that the group agreed about 80 percent of the time. Zak left the meeting with a greater appreciation of their goals. Zak plans to engage further with the Montana ranchers.
Kathy Rinaldi said that she appreciated that so many of our group was able to attend the conference. Her group focused on land, forestry and recreation. Kathy is hopeful that the group will keep meeting and sharing information.
Liz Davy moderated a session on forest products and forest use. We need to start small and go easy. Liz said that restoration and wildlife management is very important. How do we get enough forest products to make a profit and protect the forest at the same time? The Forest Service is working on getting some logging back coupled with restoration. The Forest Service is also working with ranchers. They are working for solutions to benefit everyone.
There was a presentation on the migration of birds, especially cranes. How does water play into betterment of migrating birds. They are working on a Citizens’ Guide to the National Forest Plan.
Bryce Fowler, Fremont County Weeds Specialist, spoke on invasive mussels. The Fremont County Commissioners have put together a letter about what is going on in Montana. Bryce discussed Quagga Mussels and Zebra Mussels. Adult mussels are the size of a dime to the size of a quarter. Mussels only live in fresh water. They attach to everything like super glue. Mussels live for 5 years and can live out of water for 30 days. They live in the Great Lakes at depths of 500 feet and love calcium. Each mussel filters a cubic meter of water per day. They filter everything that fish and other water organisms live on. They grow their shells when they attach to something. One pair of Quagga Mussels can have 10,000,000,000,000,000,000 babies in five years. They are always reproducing. Zebra Mussels reproduce every 3 weeks. Mussels started in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and were brought into the Great Lakes on shipping vessels in 1988. Quagga Mussels have up to 500 young at a time and Zebra have up to 40. They are also found in 8 major eastern rivers. California waters are being hit hard. In areas where the mussels are found, docks must be scraped clean every six months. The mussels cause damage to boats; natural species, impact fisheries and their sharp shells cover beaches and smell terrible. They plug pipes, etc. There is no longer any salmon fishing in the Great Lakes.
Nothing has been found to kill mussels. Canada is doing research but what they have found so far cannot pass our EPA. Mussels cannot live on copper. Fremont County is washing every boat that goes through the check stations with 140 degree water. Fremont County has four check stations – two on the highway and 2 dock stations. Montana has mussels at Canyon Ferry and Timber Reservoir. Utah has mussels at Deer Creek, Electric Lake and Lake Powell. Fremont County check stations are open from dawn to dusk seven days a week. The Fremont County Commissioners are trying to work with the Governor’s Office to help protect Idaho from the mussels. Fremont County would like to have check stations at every dock in Fremont County. They check the water twice each summer. The County does an aquatic survey. The County is working on education and outreach. Bryce said that it is possible for waterfowl to transport mussels. The Henry’s Lake Foundation sponsors boot washes. The State of Montana received $10,000,000 this year to fight mussels. Wyoming received $4,500,000. Only six states are mussel free, i.e. Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, New Mexico and Florida.
Ann Anthony asked Bryce if he would be willing to write a weekly article for the paper. Bryce agreed to do so. The fine for not going through check stations can be up to $5,000. The Fremont County Sheriff’s office is working hard to stop violators. Mussels have been found on two boats that have gone through the check stations.
Ken Watts has an updated letter and the proposed legislation nearly ready to go to our Senators and Congressmen. John Hoehne advised Ken to keep the Governor informed as well. Mitch Silvers will obtain a contract from the governor’s office. Ken Watts will prepare the legislation and letter and email it to the working group members for review. Ken would like comments prior to our next meeting. Commissioner Stoddard brought up the subject of advisory council vs. advocacy. The Commissioners advised the working group to set up an advocacy group rather than an advisory council. The Commissioners would be able to work better with an advocacy group. We will begin with the legislation and then move into advocating things we want. After discussion of the matter, Zak Miller stated that the Farm Bureau could not support the legislation if it provided for an advisory council, but could work with an advocacy group. The Farm Bureau would like to have a representative on the advocacy group. Ken Watts handed out language for Section 10 as an Advisory Council and as an Advocacy.
The group discussed possible changes made to our legislation by legislators. We do not know if the legislation will move forward after it has been presented to our legislators. We will continue to advocate for change to The Antiquities Act. Kathy Rinaldi told the group that the governor needs to hear from Island Park. The governor needs to be aware of important issues in Island Park. She said we need a strong advocacy group. Zak Miller said he is concerned with the reduction of members attending meetings.
Commissioner Lee Miller told the group that although they failed with the governor on the mussel legislation, they did get a response and action.
John Hoehne encouraged the group to work with Senator Risch. He said we need to get the legislation done first and then talk to Senator Risch’s office.
We need to team up on things we all support. Zak Miller feels we need to have more organization.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy B. Koehly, Secretary
Working Group
Minutes of Meeting
April 20, 2017
The Island Park Preservation Coalition held a working group meeting on Thursday, April 20, 2017, in the EMS Building in Island Park, Idaho. The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Ken Watts at 6:05 p.m. The following people attended the meeting:
Committee Members:
Ken Watts, Chairman
Alynn Crapo, IPPC Website Administrator
Leanne Yancey, IPPC Research
Greg Bitter, Vice Chairman
Kathy Rinaldi, Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Joe Sielinsky, IP Sustainable Fire
Ann Anthony, Island Park News
Connie Funkhouser, IP Business/IPPC Fund Raising/IP Trails Project
Zak Miller, Idaho Farm Bureau
Judy Koehly, Secretary
Members Absent:
Terry Delong, Treasurer
Dale Swensen, HFWC
Trent Yancey, Fall River Cooperative
Ellen Stantus, IP Landowner and Facilitator
Bob Stantus, IP Landowner and Recreation
Dave Moore, IP Medical Community
Kim Trotter, Yellowstone 2 Yukon
Rosemary Thompson, IPPC Fund Raising
Perry Thompson, National Park Service, retired
Luke Davis, Agriculture and Ranching
John Stiehl, Fishing, Trouthunter
Brandon Hoffner, HFWC
Glade Gunnell, IP Business
Hal Buster, FC Ranching
Kevin Phillips, summer and winter recreation
Knowledge Experts Present:
Jordan Stoddard, Fremont County Chairman
LeRoy Miller, Fremont County Chairman
Liz Davy, United States Forest Service
John Hoehne, Staff for Senator Crapo
Mitch Silvers, Staff for Senator Crapo
Bryce Fowler, Fremont County
Interested Parties:
Candace Vroman
Bill Vroman
Bill Ruppel
Patsy Watts
Minutes: The Minutes for the March meeting were brought before the working group. Joe Sielinski and Leanne Yancey had made comments prior to the meeting.
Financial: Treasurer Terry DeLong has had surgery and was unable to attend the meeting. Ken Watts reported that the most recent bank statement had a balance of $3,976.19.
Current Events
Four members of our working group attended the High Divide Collaborative Meeting in Dillon, Montana. Two hundred people attended the conference. There were four different tables with different subjects. Greg Bitter led a discussion on motorized access in the High Divide. Zak Miller made a presentation on ranching challenges in the High Divide. Zak also led a panel discussion on The Benefits of Sustaining Working Rnches in the High Divide. Kathy Rinaldi gave a presentation on recreation inventory and activity in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Greg Bitter reported that there were good discussions with people from Montana, the USFS and the BLM regarding use of ATVs during the hunting season. There is always the issue of a few people not staying on the trails. Greg presented information regarding the financial impact of motorized recreation in Idaho and Montana. Greg shared information on what we do here in Southeast Idaho. Liz Davy commented that we have a good trail system. Liz said that some areas are good for ATVs and others are not. The group discussed the use of color coded maps for ATV and UTV trails.
Zak Miller reported that he learned a lot at the conference. Zak said that we are all different and we need to work together for the greater good. Zak said that the group agreed about 80 percent of the time. Zak left the meeting with a greater appreciation of their goals. Zak plans to engage further with the Montana ranchers.
Kathy Rinaldi said that she appreciated that so many of our group was able to attend the conference. Her group focused on land, forestry and recreation. Kathy is hopeful that the group will keep meeting and sharing information.
Liz Davy moderated a session on forest products and forest use. We need to start small and go easy. Liz said that restoration and wildlife management is very important. How do we get enough forest products to make a profit and protect the forest at the same time? The Forest Service is working on getting some logging back coupled with restoration. The Forest Service is also working with ranchers. They are working for solutions to benefit everyone.
There was a presentation on the migration of birds, especially cranes. How does water play into betterment of migrating birds. They are working on a Citizens’ Guide to the National Forest Plan.
Bryce Fowler, Fremont County Weeds Specialist, spoke on invasive mussels. The Fremont County Commissioners have put together a letter about what is going on in Montana. Bryce discussed Quagga Mussels and Zebra Mussels. Adult mussels are the size of a dime to the size of a quarter. Mussels only live in fresh water. They attach to everything like super glue. Mussels live for 5 years and can live out of water for 30 days. They live in the Great Lakes at depths of 500 feet and love calcium. Each mussel filters a cubic meter of water per day. They filter everything that fish and other water organisms live on. They grow their shells when they attach to something. One pair of Quagga Mussels can have 10,000,000,000,000,000,000 babies in five years. They are always reproducing. Zebra Mussels reproduce every 3 weeks. Mussels started in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and were brought into the Great Lakes on shipping vessels in 1988. Quagga Mussels have up to 500 young at a time and Zebra have up to 40. They are also found in 8 major eastern rivers. California waters are being hit hard. In areas where the mussels are found, docks must be scraped clean every six months. The mussels cause damage to boats; natural species, impact fisheries and their sharp shells cover beaches and smell terrible. They plug pipes, etc. There is no longer any salmon fishing in the Great Lakes.
Nothing has been found to kill mussels. Canada is doing research but what they have found so far cannot pass our EPA. Mussels cannot live on copper. Fremont County is washing every boat that goes through the check stations with 140 degree water. Fremont County has four check stations – two on the highway and 2 dock stations. Montana has mussels at Canyon Ferry and Timber Reservoir. Utah has mussels at Deer Creek, Electric Lake and Lake Powell. Fremont County check stations are open from dawn to dusk seven days a week. The Fremont County Commissioners are trying to work with the Governor’s Office to help protect Idaho from the mussels. Fremont County would like to have check stations at every dock in Fremont County. They check the water twice each summer. The County does an aquatic survey. The County is working on education and outreach. Bryce said that it is possible for waterfowl to transport mussels. The Henry’s Lake Foundation sponsors boot washes. The State of Montana received $10,000,000 this year to fight mussels. Wyoming received $4,500,000. Only six states are mussel free, i.e. Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, New Mexico and Florida.
Ann Anthony asked Bryce if he would be willing to write a weekly article for the paper. Bryce agreed to do so. The fine for not going through check stations can be up to $5,000. The Fremont County Sheriff’s office is working hard to stop violators. Mussels have been found on two boats that have gone through the check stations.
Ken Watts has an updated letter and the proposed legislation nearly ready to go to our Senators and Congressmen. John Hoehne advised Ken to keep the Governor informed as well. Mitch Silvers will obtain a contract from the governor’s office. Ken Watts will prepare the legislation and letter and email it to the working group members for review. Ken would like comments prior to our next meeting. Commissioner Stoddard brought up the subject of advisory council vs. advocacy. The Commissioners advised the working group to set up an advocacy group rather than an advisory council. The Commissioners would be able to work better with an advocacy group. We will begin with the legislation and then move into advocating things we want. After discussion of the matter, Zak Miller stated that the Farm Bureau could not support the legislation if it provided for an advisory council, but could work with an advocacy group. The Farm Bureau would like to have a representative on the advocacy group. Ken Watts handed out language for Section 10 as an Advisory Council and as an Advocacy.
The group discussed possible changes made to our legislation by legislators. We do not know if the legislation will move forward after it has been presented to our legislators. We will continue to advocate for change to The Antiquities Act. Kathy Rinaldi told the group that the governor needs to hear from Island Park. The governor needs to be aware of important issues in Island Park. She said we need a strong advocacy group. Zak Miller said he is concerned with the reduction of members attending meetings.
Commissioner Lee Miller told the group that although they failed with the governor on the mussel legislation, they did get a response and action.
John Hoehne encouraged the group to work with Senator Risch. He said we need to get the legislation done first and then talk to Senator Risch’s office.
We need to team up on things we all support. Zak Miller feels we need to have more organization.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy B. Koehly, Secretary
