Silver County Forest is a scenic region including dramatic cliffs and canyons, old-growth woodlands, serene meadows, majestic mountains and a free-flowing river. The Forest ’s wildlife including deer, elk, and goshawks, among others, is thriving.  Besides recreation, current human activities include hunting and logging. 

The forestland is owned by the Federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service. The local forest ranger, Mike Mills, has great autonomy over decisions made within Forest boundaries.  In the past, there was little interference from anyone with his decisions.  However, with the recent development plans in the surrounding area, he expects that some needed management decisions he has to make soon are going to be difficult ones, as more and more activities and interests are vying for the land and for forest resources.   

For example, the increasing risk of forest fire needs attention.  Recent events showed some well-accepted practices led to uncontrollable fires that wreaked widespread destruction of forests and private property.  Therefore the next round of fire hazard decisions is likely to be controversial.  The presence of threatened species within the Forest ’s boundaries, the level of pollution in the Wamasana River and in Trout Lake , and the encroaching development of surrounding communities are among the issues that Silver County Forest is presently confronting.  The Forest has not updated its comprehensive plan since the 1980’s, and is in dire need of a plan revision that reflects the present-day environment.   

Mike Mills has appointed an interdisciplinary team of Forest employees to assess the issues facing the Forest and come up with management objectives to address each issue.  Team members include:  Alice Anderson, Director of Sustainable Forest Development; John Stevens, Regional Economist; Mary Williams, Wildlife Biologist; Dan Davis, Natural Resource Analyst; and Tom Timko, Disaster Relief Specialist.  The team has come up with three planning options for each issue that has been identified, and will present each alternative to the surrounding communities.  After receiving public input, the team will reconvene to come up with a final plan to present to Mike Mills.  Mike has the power to either accept the recommended plan or to return it to the team for revision, however it is likely that he will heed the advice of the team.

Silver Times News Articles about Forest Management in Silver County:

February 5, 2002
Local Libertarian Party Fears Government Encroachment on Individual Liberties
Property rights Advocates Fearful of Long-Range Forest Planning

November 11, 2002
Development Threatened in the Name of Environmental Protection
The Debate Surrounding the Future of Silver County Region Ensues

November 13, 2002
Environmentalists Act as “Arbor Armor” in Silver County
Activists Go to Extreme Measures to Protect Forest

EDITORIAL:

Feburary 25, 2002
Decision Between Business and Biodiversity By Abigail Fisher