And by filling streams with sediment, roads harm bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. Closing and reclaiming roads will restore habitat for grizzlies and all the other species that live there. Beleaguered wildlife populations can recover, an d the ecosystem will begin to heal. Substantial road reclamation on the Flathead Forest will begin to turn the tide against endless road-building on national forests nationwide. In fact, the major focus will be on reclaiming roads that are already closed.
Reclamation means turning an ugly road scar into a beautiful hillside.
Many of these will be used as quiet trails, away from the buzz of vehicles, restoring the balance on the forest between motorized and non- motorized recreation. Reclamation makes economic sense as well. There has been a dramatic loss of safe habitat over the 20 years that the grizzly bear has been protected under the Endangered Species Act. There is a clear need for significant limits on roads i n grizzly country. Tell the Flathead Forest you oppose the preferred alternative and they shoul d reclaim roads to protect land, wildlife, and people.