Predator Beetle to Battle Hemlock Pest Nov 20, 2009
Specifically, researchers from Cornell, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst released 900 Laricobius nigrinus beetles into a stand of adelgid-infested hemlocks on Cornell Plantations land near Lansing and at two other sites on Seneca Lake ... (July 12, 2007) Forest Service research has provided the first estimates on the impact the loss of eastern hemlock will have on the water dynamics of the southern Appalachian mountains. (Science Daily)
Wild Fire Season To Officially End Saturday Nov 20, 2009
-- The U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Tule River Reservation Fire Department (TIA) and Kern County Fire Department (KCFD) will officially declare the end of the 2009 wildland fire season on Saturday, November 21st. This will affect all forest lands managed by the Sequoia National Forest located in Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties and include the Giant Sequoia National Monument. (KERO 23, CA)
More national news » Nov 19, 2009
The U.S. Forest Service should allow helicopters to fight fires during darkness, a tactic that could have been used in the critical first hours of the summer's gigantic and deadly wildfire in the Angeles National Forest, a Los Angeles County Fire Department report found. Of all the adjectives one might use to describe Newsweek's current Sarah Palin cover, "unflattering" probably isn't one of them. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
USFS urged to allow night aerial firefightin... Nov 19, 2009
LOS ANGELES The U.S. Forest Service should allow helicopters to fight fires during darkness, a tactic that could have been used in the critical first hours of the summer's gigantic and deadly wildfire in the Angeles National Forest, a Los Angeles County Fire Department report found ... The county review follows a Forest Service report that concluded the fire raged out of control because of inaccessible terrain and dense brush in the San Gabriel Mountains ... The Forest Service report said using... (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Entities fly in Gila trout to Ariz. stream Nov 19, 2009
Represented among the work shirts of different colors was the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arizona Game Department, civilian volunteers and supply contributions from the U.S. Department of Reclamation ... "In the West, states have responsibility for wildlife while the Forest Service is charged with sustaining the diversity of woodlands," Coronado National Forest Fish and Wildlife Manager Rick Gerhart said. (ESPN -- Outdoors)
Climber, photographer researching Bitterroot peaks for new guide book Nov 19, 2009
" Hoyt also noticed a difference in the maintenance of many local trails."It was wonderful that the Forest Service received stimulus money because this is the first time I've seen almost every trail cleared at least once during the summer," he said. "They've done tons of maintenance and I've got to really hand it to them. It's obvious that all they've needed is some money to do the work because they definitely do it when they have the money. (Montana Standard, MT)
Appeals to BLM travel plan dismissed Nov 19, 2009
The plan is coordinated with adjoining Forest Service land so roads hook up and the seasonal closures are better coordinated to run together between agencies so routes are available. Many miles of the closure are in the Scatchgravel Hills area near Helena. (Montana Standard, MT)
Should prairie dogs be poisoned? Nov 19, 2009
Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 1:01 PM MST The U.S. Forest Service decided last week to include poisoning as part of its management plan for black-tailed prairie dogs in the Thunder Basin National Grassland south of Wright ... The amendment to increase the situations where poison can be used was made to minimize conflicts with adjacent landowners, according to the U.S. Forest Services management plan amendment. (Gillette News-Record, WY)
Local briefs: 17-year-old blamed in Sequoia blaze Nov 19, 2009
A 17-year-old who carelessly used a cigarette lighter caused the Power fire along Highway 190 in Giant Sequoia National Monument, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Arson has not been ruled out in the fire, which started Sept. 29, and the teen will be referred to the Tulare County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Forest Service Says Trees Can Combat Global Warming Nov 19, 2009
WASHINGTON The nation's top Forest Service official says national forests can store more carbon to slow global warming, but he warns that such a goal must be balanced against the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell told a Senate panel on Wednesday that his agency is trying to manage forests to combat climate change while still easing the risk of wildfires ... The Forest Service is trying to thin out young trees and underbrush to control wildfires that are increasing... (Fox News)
Forest to hold motorized travel management meetings Nov 19, 2009
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 2:49 PM CST The U.S. Forest Service has announced dates, times and locations for five public meetings that will provide information on the upcoming Stanislaus National Forest Motorized Travel Management Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision. The release of the decision and legal notice is expected within the next three weeks. (San Andreas Calaveras Enterprise, CA)
Washington news » Nov 19, 2009
National forests can be used as a carbon "sink" with vast numbers of trees absorbing carbon dioxide to help slow global warming, the Forest Service chief said Wednesday, but that goal must be balanced. He's also concerned about the risk of catastrophic wildfires that produce massive amounts of carbon dioxide. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
Beetle fight may require campground closures Nov 19, 2009
It would be easy to criticize the U.S. Forest Service for proposing to close dozens of campgrounds in northern Wyoming in order to focus resources on bark beetle infestations primarily in northern Colorado ... An expected $2 million reduction in the budget of the Shoshone National Forest -- part of what the Forest Service is proposing in order to focus that money on bark beetles primarily in four Colorado national forests -- may be a pittance when considering the massive federal budget ... That... (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
School rivalries fade in debate Nov 18, 2009
"They are only about 20 miles apart," said Cockerham, 72, a retired U.S. Forest Service ranger who has lived in several states. "I don't remember any other state the size of Mississippi trying to support that many state universities," he said. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Copper Mountain to be sold Nov 18, 2009
The transaction is anticipated to close in December 2009, and the agreement is subject to regulatory approvals including the issuance of a U.S. Forest Service special-use permit to Powdr Corp., the statement said. Terms were not announced. (Denver Business Journal, CO)
Intrawest Selling Colo.'s Copper Mountain to Powdr Nov 18, 2009
Intrawest, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, said Tuesday it has reached a definitive deal with Powdr but the sale still needs approval from the U.S. Forest Service and federal regulators. At least some of Copper Mountain's terrain is leased from the Forest Service. (ABC News -- Wire)
Guest opinion: Forty years is long enough Nov 18, 2009
In 1969 I was working for the Forest Service and was sent to Dillon to be the budget officer on the Beaverhead National Forest. My wife fell in love with the town immediately and the fishing was and is the best. (Montana Standard, MT)
Rotarians celebrate 400 pathways built Nov 18, 2009
" The 69-member Rotary Club of Madison County meets at 7 a.m. Fridays in Ila. Gandy said while he knows those who receive ramps feel fortunate, he added that he often gets more out of the process than anyone he helps. "We really enjoy getting together and there's always a lot of kidding," said Gandy, a Texas native who's retired from the U.S. Forest Service. "We just like working and serving people. We like to think we're a good example of 'Service above Self. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Group rethinks ferret petition Nov 18, 2009
One such area is in Thunder Basin National Grassland, where the U.S. Forest Service released a new prairie dog management plan last week that includes ferret reintroduction as a main goal. The ferrets' diet consists almost entirely on prairie dogs. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
USFS may close all area campsites Nov 17, 2009
All 32 campgrounds on the Shoshone Forest may remain closed next summer as the Forest Service focuses its efforts and cash on a 2 ... Claudia Wade, marketing director for the Park County Travel Council, encouraged people to contact legislators and urge them to work toward obtaining additional funds for the Forest Service so the campground closures can be avoided ... We do have visitors who enjoy camping in Forest Service campgrounds and want that more rugged experience, Wade said. (Cody Enterprise, WY)
Fresno County Fire reducing staff Nov 17, 2009
The largest wildfire in Los Angeles County history raged out of control because it jumped into inaccessible terrain, not because the U.S. Forest Service scaled back firefighters and aircraft attacking the flames, a federal review found Friday. The U.S. Forest Service study of decision-making during the Station Fire's first three days concluded that commanders used "best professional practices" while trying to knock down the fire that began Aug. 26 in Angeles National Forest ... Forest Service... (Fresno Bee)
POLICY ON SUBMISSIONS Nov 17, 2009
" Gusgus wrote on Aug 24, 2008 4:08 PM:" "Forest Service will close 95 road miles"Another fine mess our government has created. How can it be viewed that roads not maintained are somehow "unusable? How is that sensible? I wonder how long until McKinley Park will be deemed too dangerous because we can't afford body guards for the public? SHEESH! ". (Wasilla Frontiersman, AK)
Report: USU’s graduate LAEP program ranks 15th in nation Nov 16, 2009
Following completion of the graduate degree, USU students go on to careers in the private and public sectors, including city, county and state planning offices; federal agencies like the Forest Service; and top private firms. Department head Sean Michael noted that USU has been producing some of America s best and brightest landscape architects for more than 70 years. (Logan Herald Journal, UT)
Wind farm plan irks activists Nov 16, 2009
Approvals by the PUC and the Bureau of Land Management are being challenged, and the U.S. Forest Service has not approved the line yet, though SDG it will begin construction next year. The arguments against the wind projects parallel those against Sunrise: that it's uneconomic and unnecessarily damaging to the environment. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Oregon marijuana season reveals more environmental damage Nov 16, 2009
"They dump it by the 50-pound sack right into the water supply," said Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer, whose department seized 60,000 pot plants at nine operations this summer in raids with the Oregon State Police, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and other agencies. "It's a really concentrated level," he said. (Longview Daily News, WA)
In battle to save hemlocks, hope rests on a beetle Nov 16, 2009
(US Forest Service) By Globe Staff / November 16, 2009. E-mail this article. (Boston Globe)
Time is right for Tester forest bill Nov 16, 2009
That's fewer miles than would be closed under the Forest Service's proposed management plan ... sidewinder wrote on Nov 15, 2009 9:07 AM:" Jon Testor is in bed with the forest industry. Give me a break, this is just a bill for the forest industry and wilderness supporters with a very small offering for for the general public to let them think they are getting something. We have plenty of wilderness areas already and although a very small percentage of the public use these we all have to pay in... (Montana Standard, MT)
Vermont Hunting Checkpoint Brings Surprise Nov 16, 2009
The U.S. Forest Service brought in a search dog trained to sniff out illegal drugs. When the dog got to the trunk, it let his partner know that he had found something. (WCAX.com, VT)
Earl Cooley; smoke jumper helped pioneer risky firefighting technique Nov 15, 2009
WASHINGTON - Earl Cooley, 98, who was one of the first two US Forest Service smoke jumpers to parachute into a forest fire and later was a spotter on the Mann Gulch fire that killed 13 firefighters, died Nov. 9 at his home in Missoula, Mont ... That was the start of the Forest Service s storied corps of smoke jumpers who even today jump in hazardous, remote areas to quickly control fires that ground-based crews cannot reach ... But the fire blew up and overran the men in what became the Forest... (Boston Globe)
What’s killing the bats? Nov 15, 2009
As a precaution, the US Forest Service last spring closed approximately 2,000 caves and mines in 33 states in its Eastern and Southern regions for up to one year. The action followed a US Fish and Wildlife Service request that the public observe a caving moratorium in 17 states. (Boston Globe)
$10 million forest lab receives funding Nov 15, 2009
A new science research lab in Juneau received funding this month when President Obama signed a bill that includes $5 million for the U.S. Forest Service project ... A new science research lab in Juneau received funding this month when President Obama signed a bill that includes $5 million for the U.S. Forest Service project ... The $10 million lab will be designed for Juneau Forestry Sciences Laboratory researchers and staff who study fish, water, soil and vegetation for the U.S. Forest Service.... (Juneau Empire)
Plan allows prairie dog poisoning Nov 15, 2009
CHEYENNE -- A new U.S. Forest Service plan released last week allows for the expanded use of poison to manage and control prairie dog populations in parts of Thunder Basin National Grassland in eastern Wyoming ... The new policy could take effect in as soon as 40 days, depending on whether appeals are filed with the Forest Service ... Why should we be poisoning a Forest Service sensitive species on public land, at public expense. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
Meeting the beetles Nov 14, 2009
National team will help Forest Service efforts to fight Medicine Bow infestation ... DENVER -- A national team will help the U.S. Forest Service manage the attack against the pine beetle infestation that has swept through about 2 ... Forest Service spokeswoman Mary Ann Chambers said the agency is concerned about trees toppling the 550 miles of power lines in the area and the stands of dead trees fueling wildfires. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
Challenge to NV personhood initiative expected Nov 13, 2009
In one of the year's most anticipated environmental cases, the court could either narrow or expand the public's power over the Forest Service. Everyone from homebuilders to California Attorney General Jerry Brown is weighing in. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Fire destroys Lake William home, no one injured Nov 13, 2009
Fire crews from Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County and the U.S. Forest Service assisted Big Bear City Fire Department fighting the fire. The garage was the most difficult to extinguish due the type of construction and the possibility of the roof collapsing. (Big Bear Grizzly, CA)
Tree stops at Phoenix on Ariz. tour Nov 13, 2009
The U.S. Forest Service plans to post additional details about the tour on its Web site, , on Monday afternoon. Most read. (AZCentral -- News)
Nation's tree tours state before heading to D.C. Nov 13, 2009
So far, more than 6,000 people have come out to see the tree, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jim Payne. The evidence is scrawled across large banners that line the flatbed truck, as people have signed their names and written well-wishes. (AZCentral -- News)
Wood chip-heating solution is not backed by science Nov 13, 2009
The Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit Juneau, working extensively with the Forest Service and the Department of Energy, are proposing an 18th- century solution for a 21st-century problem that developed out of an 19th-century solution. The solution being proposed adds to the problem rather than solving it. (Juneau Empire)
Pioneer smokejumper Earl Cooley dies in Mon Nov 13, 2009
-- Earl Cooley, the smokejumper who took the Forest Service's first leap into a flame-riddled wilderness, died Monday in Missoula ... He retired from the Forest Service in 1975 to start Cooley Realty ... In 1984, he chronicled much of the Forest Service's early smokejumping history in his book "Trimotor and Trail.". (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
Things to Do: Scenic Drives Nov 13, 2009
my wife and I live down in Oakwood and we do quite a bit of traveling around NE GA. There are some fantastic roadtrips with lots to do and some great food along the way - we often wonder why more people don't take advantage of our area like this. " Kay wrote on Oct 12, 2008 10:07 AM:" Reading the Things To Do has been a tremendous help in learning about the area. (Clayton Tribune, GA)
Changes possible for Silver Glen Springs Nov 12, 2009
The U.S. Forest Service recently began discussing possible changes to boating and recreation at the popular boating destination on the St. Johns River. The agency must balance recreation uses with natural resource protection, said Carl Petrick, a Forest Service official, and has been asked to give the endangered Florida manatee room to use the spring ... But the size and emotions of the crowd took wildlife commission and Forest Service officials by surprise. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
Kiwanis Club seeks toys for local kids in need Nov 12, 2009
Locations include The Grizzly, Big Bear Lake Fire Department, Big Bear City Fire Department, Grizzly Manor, Big Bear Senior Center, Kiwanis Christmas Tree Lot, Union Bank, both First Mountain Bank locations, Big Bear Library, Big Bear Discovery Center, Bear Belly Deli, B s Backyard Bar-B-Que, Phil s Automotive, Bear Valley Electric, Doucett CPA, Baldwin Lake Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service Big Bear Station at Juniper Point, St. Columba s Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church and the... (Big Bear Grizzly, CA)
Veterans Day events planned around the BasinEvents to honor veterans begin Wednesday morning Nov 11, 2009
The Veterans Day waiver applies to public recreation lands under the management of the BLM, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation, along with the U.S. Forest Service. -- The Tulelake Chamber of Commerce will host a dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Tulelake Veterans Park for bronze plaques dedicated to World War I and World War II homesteaders, and two statues in the park. (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)
No agreement in Upper County fire district dispute Nov 11, 2009
At issue is winter access to Fire District 8 s Station 83, which sits 1,500 feet past the place where the Forest Service closes Forest Service Road 54 beyond the Crystal Springs Sno-Park to wheeled traffic each winter. The Fire District wants to permission to plow the road from the point where Forest Service plowing ends to the station ... The Forest Service says allowing the road to be plowed potentially would endanger cross country skiers, dog sledders, snowmobilers and other winter... (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)
Letters To The Editor Nov 11, 2009
Our whole trip was ruined by two very unprofessional female forest service employees (pine cone cops), whose policy has evidently changed without anyone knowing it. So why cant we camp the whole hunting season like the neighboring national forest allows. (Ontario Argus Observer, OR)
Kenya: Security Forces Move to Evict Settlers in Forest Nov 11, 2009
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) director David Mbugua said settlers in the targeted area had no documents to support their presence in Mau. Some 300 security officers has been deployed in the area which is a 42-kilometre stretch. (allAfrica.com)
Knight fire cause revealed Nov 11, 2009
The investigation lasted two months and was conducted by U.S. Forest Service special agents and fire investigators ... The Forest Service spent more than 11 million battling the blaze. (San Andreas Calaveras Enterprise, CA)
Sempra surprises with bump in profits Nov 10, 2009
The project, which relies on crossing the Cleveland National Forest in East County, has yet to get the approval of the U.S. Forest Service. We're fairly confident that it's going to happen in the next four or five months, Reed said. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Officials want input on Silver Glen Springs Nov 10, 2009
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Forest Service are interested in hearing ideas from the public about how to continue allowing boaters to use the run while protecting it from damage. Concerns include damage to aquatic plants from boat and human foot traffic as well as pollution from the boats. (Daytona Beach News Journal -- Local)
National Park designation would be best for Mount St. Helens Nov 10, 2009
On the central question of which federal agency should manage the volcano the U.S. Forest Service or the National Park Service the advisory committee effectively has tried to split the difference. It s recommending that the volcano remain under Forest Service management, but as a stand-alone administrative entity that would receive funding on par with that of national parks ... But the notion that we can have it both ways continuing under Forest Service management with the financial advantages... (Longview Daily News, WA)
Planting trees can shift water flow Nov 10, 2009
A team led by Wayne Skaggs of North Carolina State University in Chapel Hill, in collaboration with the US Forest Service, afforested one of a pair of watersheds. The researchers observed an 18 22% drop in base flow in the afforested watershed compared with the watershed that had been left as grassland. (Scientific American)
Judge asked to end Yellowstone bison kills Nov 10, 2009
The lawsuit asks a U.S. District Court judge to bar the National Park Service and Forest Service from participating in the slaughter program ... And last year, with financial backing from several conservation groups, the agencies leased a corridor through a private ranch adjacent to Yellowstone, allowing a small number of bison to access Forest Service land outside the park ... "We need to learn from those baby steps to see if we might apply those at a broader scale," said Forest Service... (MSNBC -- Environment)
Team working on Modoc County financial crisisInformation available on Web site, Facebook, Twitter Nov 10, 2009
Tony Richno, the county s office of emergency service deputy director, said the group is headed by Undersheriff Gary Palmer and includes county department heads along with representatives from the Forest Service, city of Alturas and other agencies. Information is available at the Modoc County Sheriff s Department Web site at , Modoc OES in Facebook, and Modocfinancial on Twitter. (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)
Lawsuit: End Killing of Yellowstone Bison Nov 10, 2009
The lawsuit filed Monday would bar the National Park Service and Forest Service from participation in the slaughter program ... And a migration corridor was leased through a private ranch adjacent to Yellowstone to let at least 25 bison access Forest Service land outside the park ... Forest Service spokeswoman Marna Daley said the agencies were "looking for opportunities for bison to move outside of Yellowstone National Park without increasing the risk of the spread of brucellosis.". (CBS News)
Forest Service excavates fort along Trail of Tears Nov 9, 2009
The U.S. Forest Service has begun to uncover the remains of a fort used to temporarily house migrating Cherokee along the Trail of Tears more than 170 years ago ... Forest Service archaeologist Quentin Bass told the Knoxville News Sentinel that work has revealed the locations of block houses, a parade ground, a powder magazine, barracks and storage pits ... The U.S. Forest Service purchased the 26-acre site in 2005 from the Dalton family. (Pine Bluff Commercial, AR)
Stevensville FFA team places at nationals (2) Nov 8, 2009
The team's issue, centered on the following question: Should the U.S. Forest service take a more proactive approach towards logging and management in the national forest. To qualify for the National Agricultural Issues Forum CDE, teams must design a presentation that addresses multiple viewpoints of a contemporary agricultural issue and present it to a number of audiences in their community. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Ariz. Christmas tree begins journey to D.C. Nov 8, 2009
"It's a huge honor," said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jim Payne ... While each year's chosen Christmas tree typically takes a tour on its way to the Capitol, Davalos said Forest Service officials are confronting unique problems this year given Arizona's dry climate and the unseasonably warm temperatures in the Valley ... The U.S. Forest Service plans to post additional details about the tour on its Web site, , on Monday afternoon. (AZCentral -- News)
Forest Service rejects appeals Nov 8, 2009
DILLON Forest Service officials announced this week that they had rejected all 56 appeals to the management plan for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest that was released this year, meaning the plan will be put into practice. Deputy Forest Service Chief Gloria Manning upheld the forest on all the appeals, the agency said in a press release ... Specialists in the Forest Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., had reviewed the plan and the appeals filed on it and determined the plan was... (Montana Standard, MT)
Quail Unlimited outlook 'bleak' Nov 8, 2009
Quail Unlimited's many accomplishments include spreading its chapters to areas as far away as Oregon and New Mexico -- and convincing the U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies to adopt quail management programs. More than anything else, the group has worked hard to convey that everyone should care about quail, whose presence in a healthy ecosystem typically shows that all is well. (The Augusta Chronicle)
From the lunar orbit to Plano, moon tree puts down roots Nov 7, 2009
Five days later Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell walked on the moon while Stuart Roosa, a former U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper, orbited above in the command module. Packed in small containers in Roosas personal kit were hundreds of tree seeds for a NASA/USFA joint project. (McKinney Courier-Gazette, TX)
Man violates probation in criminally negligent homicide case (884) Nov 7, 2009
The Forest Service is increasing fees for people who own cabins on Forest Service lands by as much as 400 percent. An average $1,500 fee at Lake of the Woods would climb to more than $6,000. (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)
Looking for an answer Nov 7, 2009
Ranchers grazing cattle on United States Forest Service and private land adjacent to Sather Dam and Leland Dam south of Alexander say livestock have very little to do with the serious water quality issues that threaten the fisheries at the two locations ... "Most of it on the Forest Service land is a grazing situation," Anderson said ... Curt Severson grazes cattle on Forest Service land on the west side of Sather Dam and farther south of Anderson. (Williston Daily Herald, ND)
Colo. gov proposes sales tax on soda, online sales Nov 7, 2009
Conservation groups and the U.S. Forest Service have fought for decades over management of the country's largest national forest ... In the end, the Forest Service didn't give conservation groups what they wanted and they were bitterly disappointed. (Fresno Bee -- Business)
Tech.view: Fighting fire with fire Nov 7, 2009
Ironically, the United States Forest Service has not helped. Its mascot created in 1944 to educate the public about the danger of forest fires advocated total fire suppression, which served a vital function during the second world war, when there were few able-bodied people available to fight fires rather than the enemy. (The Economist)
Bighorns, domestic sheep don't mix Nov 6, 2009
Forest Service and state wildlife officials are highly complimentary of the Martinez family's can-do adaptability when bighorn issues arise ... Two years later, the Forest Service called for the plan to be rewritten, and in 2007 three conservation groups sued to prevent sheep grazing until the plan is finished ... If the Forest Service plan in Payette strikes a fair balance between bighorns' safety concerns and the ability of sheep ranchers to make a living -- and survives the inevitable salvo... (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)