Resource Advisory Committees came about after the establishment of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. To qualify, projects must improve federal lands such as trails, infrastructure maintenance, soil and forest ecosystem health, watershed restoration, maintenance and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat, control of noxious weeds, and re-establishment of native species. At least 50 percent of project funds are dedicated to restoring streams and watersheds; or road maintenance, decommissioning or removal. Projects may be on private land, but must show a direct benefit to National Forest System lands.

The committee reviewed fifteen proposals. Here are the approved projects for 2012:

1. Bitterroot Floating Weed Pull – Ravalli Co. Weed District $4,250
2. Blodgett & Chaffin Creek Trail Improvements – Montana Conservation Corps $53,000
3. Como Trails Club Signage – cross country ski trail area $2,000
4. Little Boulder Creek Culvert Replacement to improve fisheries passage $5,000
5. Monitoring Trends in Ungulate Populations – Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks $30,050
6. New Invaders Barrier Zone Project – (Phase 2), weed management $16,500
7. Poker Joe Cooperative – (Phase 1), weed management $6,000
8. Selway-Bitterroot Foundation Volunteer Program $5,000
9. Trapper Bunkhouse Project – thin timber fuel loads adjacent to WUI (76 acres) $87,567
10. Trash Disposal and Education Outreach on Bitterroot NF $2,500
11. Skalkaho Bank Stabilization Project $2,880
Total: $214,747.00

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