Breaking Story

Tribe restricts access to certain areas due to fire

A severe threat of forest fires will restrict access to a limited forest area and delay a special hunt for bull elk and bighorn sheep that was to begin September 1. On Thursday, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes furthered restricted access to tribally owned lands in Ferry Basin and Little Money (Camas) Wildlife management areas on the Flathead Indian Reservation. This Limited Area Forest and Rangeland Closure is in addition to the Stage II Fire Restrictions Order issued on July 31, 2006. This closure becomes effective Friday and will remain in effect until rescinded by the Chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the BIA Superintendent of Flathead Agency. All tribally owned lands within the Ferry Basin and Little Money (Camas) Wildlife Management Areas are closed to public use with the following exceptions:

*There are some exceptions to the closures pertaining to agricultural and irrigated lands; 
*livestock managers on cleared roads; 
*day use of the Flathead River access via improved access sites like Buffalo Bridge, Sloan's Bridge, Hoskin' Landing and Perma Bridge; 
*numbered state, county and private roads, access to private land by crossing tribal land via cleared roads.

Other exceptions include areas like emergency access to utilities, research and cultural uses, governmental management duties. Livestock may also remain on closed lands. 

Questions on access should be directed to Curtis Matt at (406) 676-2550 or Curtm@ckst.org