Montana annually has months of forest fires that degrade air quality. Management of the forests is lacking. California also creates many forest fires and their smoke is harmful to Montana. Selective fire break creation logging of adequate strips to control fires should be done with consultation from forest fire experts.
The state presently allows minimal logging. Water runoff when clear-cuts occur can be harmful, and rivers with obstructions such as beaver dams (we like beavers) can exacerbate river flooding issues downstream along with ice blockages. Water run-off from clear-cuts can silt up rivers harming fishing. Coordinating the various elements of fire control requires solid analysis from experts in several fields.
Forests differ in nature from state to state. A solution that works in the Tongass might not work in Montana or Oregon, California and vice versa. Federal forestry management should upgrade its management policies so they reflect the good of people living in a state as well as the forests' health.
Humans cause a lot of forest fires with machines in hot summer conditions. Sparks from spinning tires on dirt and rock roads, catalytic converters that are hot and other motor vehicle issues start fires in addition to careless cigarette butt tosses. Yet when fires start controlling them before winter solves the problem may require careful and adequate design of fire breaks before fire season.
The state presently allows minimal logging. Water runoff when clear-cuts occur can be harmful, and rivers with obstructions such as beaver dams (we like beavers) can exacerbate river flooding issues downstream along with ice blockages. Water run-off from clear-cuts can silt up rivers harming fishing. Coordinating the various elements of fire control requires solid analysis from experts in several fields.
Forests differ in nature from state to state. A solution that works in the Tongass might not work in Montana or Oregon, California and vice versa. Federal forestry management should upgrade its management policies so they reflect the good of people living in a state as well as the forests' health.
Humans cause a lot of forest fires with machines in hot summer conditions. Sparks from spinning tires on dirt and rock roads, catalytic converters that are hot and other motor vehicle issues start fires in addition to careless cigarette butt tosses. Yet when fires start controlling them before winter solves the problem may require careful and adequate design of fire breaks before fire season.
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| Image credit; US Dept of Agriculture |
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