Beaverhead-Deerlodge Working Group

Purpose Statement

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Working Group (BDWG) is a citizen-based committee of people who represent key interests, geographic balance, and knowledge of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Members represent timber, country commissioners, agriculture/ranching, quiet and motorized recreation, conservation, hunting and fishing, outfitters/guides, and citizen interests.

An initial organizing committee began meeting in May 2011 to develop the concept and structure of the group, and to identify key people and interests to invite to the collaborative table. The full BDWG began meeting in October 2011 and has met almost monthly since its start.

Vision

The BDWG works to develop common understanding amongst diverse stakeholders and serve as a bridge to broader constituencies on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (BDNF). Litigation and appeals are commonly filed on the BDNF and conflict has been high around the new forest plan. Working Group members hope to provide a way to resolve forest level issues in a positive manner before they get to the appeal stage, resulting in more restoration work being done on the ground and in a way that achieves ecological objectives as well as community benefits.

There is currently no other forest-wide collaborative group on the BDNF, and the Forest Service has welcomed and supported the BDWG as a way to engage more deeply with the various interests involved in the Forest. The purpose of the BDWG is to develop agreement around priority areas and approaches for project work on the BDNF and to help facilitate completion of those projects at the local level.

Our Overall Objectives Include:

Developing common understanding among diverse stakeholders and serving as a bridge to broader constituencies
Reaching agreements that will lead to more efficient and effective restoration project work being achieved at the watershed level
Increasing the understanding of Forest Service processes and approaches
Offering and supporting innovations
Identifying management efficiencies and priority projects
Foster broader public support and ownership of proposed Forest Service actions