Wilderness in the northern Rockies| A Missoula-Lolo National Forest perspective

Missoula and western Montana are home to a microcosm of national interests involved in the wilderness preservation debate.This microcosm existed and continues to exist within a unique political atmosphere where wildernessrelated events routinely make headlines in the local news media.Since Missoula represents a microcosm for wilderness issues and it is a typical western American municipality, a historical study of wilderness using Missoula and its western Montana environs as examples will reflect the larger history of the evolution of wilderness preservation in the United States.This study identifies the components of the microcosm in Missoula and western Montana and then covers the history of statutory wilderness preservation in the United States Forest Service from 1891 to 1992.Missoula, Lolo National Forest and other pertinent regional examples are used to highlight the history of wilderness preservation in the Forest Service, charting events from the establishment of the forest reserves to the current polarized wilderness stalemate in Montana.Legislative events, court cases, and local and state politics receive special focus along with the problems the Forest Service has experienced as a result of the movement to preserve wilderness.Extensive primary and secondary research support this study.The author conducted interviews with many individuals who were responsible for influencing the events described in this history.Corroborating the oral interviews are numerous archival documents from both the University of Montana and the various Forest Service offices located in Missoula.The standard secondary works in wilderness history are referenced to place the primary research into context.The culmination of the wilderness preservation story has yet to occur.Missoula and western Montana face increasing polarization between preservationist and utilitarian interests, preventing a legislative resolution to the wilderness debate.This polarization also reflects the state of affairs in public land law in the West, and suggests that if Missoula and Montana can find a solution, then that solution could serve as a model for the nation. TABLE OF CONTENTSThe western half and a northeastern portion of the forest lie in the Columbia Rockies region.This region is characterized by lush, humid, forested mountains and valleys.Comparatively few people inhabit this area, and those who do reside in small towns nestled in the narrow valleys.Lolo's central lands fall into the Broad Valley Rockies region.A more arid, sparsely vegetated, and populated landscape distinguishes this area.Missoula lies in one of these broad valleys and ranks as the most populous city completely enclosed within the Rocky Mountains. 1 In 1992 Bruce Vento, Democrat Congressman from Minnesota, introduced the National Forest Wilderness Management Act, HR 4325, that also called for the establishment of an Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute at Missoula.At the close of the 102nd Congress however, Vento's legislation was still in debate.Most probably the Forest Service administratively designated Missoula the site for the Leopold Institute in response to Vento's proposed bill.The United States Forest Service maintains a considerable presence in Missoula.The Northern Region's headquarters, an Aerial Fire Depot and Smokejumper's training center, the offices of Lolo National Forest, and 'John A. Alwin, Western Montana: A Portrait of the Land and its People, Montana Geographic Series Number Five, (Helena, MT: Montana Magazine, Inc., 1983), 4-5.