Protection of predator/prey diversity in the North Fork valley of the Flathead River : a case for land use planning

May, Allen

A com ponent of the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, the North Fork Valley of the Flathead River is a transnational drainage that is home to a rich native biotic assemblage, a diverse hum an com m unity, and a melange of resource extractive land uses. Perceived differently by the various owners that manage its land, the drainage offers a unique challenge and opportunity for the implementation of ecosystem based land use planning. Scattered throughout the valley bottom , small portions of land on the American side of the border are privately held and valued for recreational and second home development. However, much of this land is critical riparian habitat for imperiled predators and is threatened by the impacts of unplanned development. Biological and ecological research has uncovered the various needs and threats for 3 local predators of concern. The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis ), gray wolf (Canis lupus), and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus ) were chosen for analysis based on their ability to indicate the health of the drainage’s terrestrial and aquatic habitats. These species offer insight into the impacts of private residential development, open road densities and improper waste disposal. Surrounded by federal and state land, private landowners have been forced to accept costs and benefits of public land use planning. Concerned with the inability to control their destiny, the North Fork com m unity has developed a plan to guide private land use. This plan has subsequently become the backdrop for international planning . Analysis, based on research and personal interviews, offers insight into the strength and weaknesses of both grassroots and international plans relative to their ability to protect predator/prey diversity and the interests of local landowners. In order to provide long term protection for both, it is evident an international treaty is the optimal vehicle for guidance. Given the appropriate structural guidance federal, state, and local governments must then be responsible for progressive changes. Private sector conservation, is the optimal functional approach for sustainable hum an predator coexistence in the North Fork.