Big Wild Bi-Weekly 2.22.2010

Dear Friends,

This week's Big Wild Bi-Weekly includes:

• Upcoming Walkin' Jim Concert to benefit Friends of the Clearwater, March 8, 7:00 p.m. in Moscow
• Volunteers needed for concert, meeting March 1, 6:00 pm at FOC Office
• New Education & Outreach Director, Brett Haverstick to start March 1st
• Clearwater snowpack data
• A victory for bull trout
• Helicopters allowed to land in wilderness

Walkin' Jim, Monday, March 8, 7:00 p.m. at the 1912 Building

Be sure to get your ticket for what is sure to be a crowd-pleasing show. You can support FOC by buying your Walkin' Jim Stoltz Benefit Concert ticket at Book People of Moscow or Brused Books in Pullman. General admission is $10 for this family friendly show, Monday March 8, 7:00 p.m. at the 1912 Building across from Moscow High School. The show is sponsored by Friends of the Clearwater and the University of Idaho Ecology Club. Tickets will be available at the door but they are going fast! Non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages will be for sale by Mikey's Gyros. To sample some of Jim's music and learn more about this man who has walked over 27,000 miles including many in the Northern Rockies visit www.walkin'jim.com. For a slew of one minute song cluips visit: http://www.walkinjim.com/index.php?pr=Song_Clips

Next Monday, March 1, 6:30 p.m. we are having a Walkin' Jim Show volunteer meeting and FOC Potluck at our office (116 East Third St. across from Peck's Shoes and above the Shirt Shack). At this meeting we will also be introducing Brett Haverstick, who will be taking over the reigns as Education & Outreach Director begining March 1. Brett comes to us by way of the University of Idaho, where he earned his M.S. in Natural Resources in 2008 and more recently from Silver City, NM where he did wolf education & outreach for the Center of Biological Diversity. Come one, come all in welcoming Brett, a great addition, to FOC!

Check out snowpack data from a variety of Clearwater Snotel data collection sites including Moscow Mountain. Over alll, the precipitation and snowpack depths have been estimated at 50-65% of normal for the Clearwater River drainage.

http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/recreation/depth/clearwaterdepth.html

Despite this season's lack of snowfall, which could potentially threaten both resident and anadromous fish populations, we have some positive news regarding federally protected bull trout. If you remember, bull trout was one of those species that was "sacrificed" during the Bush administration's attack on "best available science." Thankfully the critical habitat designation for the species is now receiving a fair shake. Please read more about the US Fish & Wildlife Service's excellent recommendation and send your comment by March 15, 2010.

http://friendsoftheclearwater.org/bulltroutcriticalhabitat

Judge B. Lynn Winmill rejected conservation groups efforts to prevent Idaho Fish & Game from making up to twenty helicopter landings in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness for the purpose of radio-collaring wolves, this past Friday. Desipte allowing these intrusions, which are prohibited by the Wilderness Act, Judge Winmill added, "Given that this project is allowed to proceed, the next project will be extraordinarily difficult to justify." Read more here: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_id_wilderness_helicopters.html

Thanks to everyone who has made my brief return as an FOC staffer so wonderful. I will be continuing on as president of the currrent FOC Board of Directors so I hope to stay in touch with many of you.

all the best,

Boyd family at Chateau Falls, Pot Mountain Roadless Area, Clearwater NF