A Historic Agreement and Proposal
The Kootenai Winter Travel Collaborative
The power of collaboration in action on the Kootenai.
Remarkable progress has been made in finding solutions for long standing controversies on the Kootenai National Forest (KNF) concerning travel by over-the-snow vehicles (OSV) and Wilderness management.
For decades, motorized winter travel on the KNF and management of the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area has generated bitter disagreements, lawsuits, poorly defined regulations, and polarized opinions, resulting in a lack of trust between user groups.
In 2023, when the KNF began a long delayed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process to analyze and manage OSV use the public process was highly polarized and there was substantial criticism of the Forest Service’s handling of the initial public meetings. It seemed unlikely the process could result in a place that would comply with the Forest Service’s Congressional mandates and be accepted and respected by the public.
The KFSC board decided to convene an informal meeting of interested parties and see if there seemed to be any room for working together to seek common ground on these issues. A few meetings in the summer of 2024 led to the formation of an ad hoc group that became the Kootenai Winter Travel Collaborative (KWTC). The group’s initial goal was to seek agreement on providing input for a comment on the Kootenai Winter Travel EIS.
A broad group of people and organizations met repeatedly and worked together on the issues, including representatives from local and statewide motorized recreation user groups, local and statewide conservation groups, supporters of quiet recreation, public access stakeholders, hunters, and general forest users.
Many were surprised by how well members of the group listened and sincerely respected the diverse goals and values of the various points of view. A win-win vision gradually emerged, based on increasing areas open to motorized over-the-snow access relative to the starting proposal. The vision also supports removing the 1977 Wilderness Study Area (WSA) designation from the Ten Lakes area and pursuing formal Congressional Wilderness designation for areas that the KNF had previously recommended for Wilderness management. Along with the Wilderness designations, there will also be request for Congressional designation of a number of Special Management Areas dedicated to providing opportunities for motorized winter recreation.
Implementing the KWTC vision will both increase motorized access and also provide permanent protection for priority wild county in the KNF. The agreement would remove the controversy and uncertainty over management of the WSA. These goals represent the main priorities of the two previously opposed user groups — OSV advocates and conservationists.
In March 2025, KWTC members voted unanimously to support a two-part approach to action.
Part One: Write and submit a carefully worded comment letter to the KNF on the Winter Travel EIS. The letter includes a map and list of specific roadless areas recommended as open or closed to over-the-snow vehicles. Implementing these recommendations would require an amendment to the existing 10-year old Kootenai Forest Plan. The KNF has indicated that they are currently working on the EIS and will consideration to the KWTC recommendations.
Part Two: Craft a legislative proposal that would remove the WSA from Ten Lakes and designate certain areas for motorized OSV use and Wilderness designation under the 1964 Wilderness Act.
At present, a KWTC committee is working with our Congressional delegation to finalize the map and legislative language implement the KWTC vision.
We hope to see our legislative proposal introduced to Congress before the end of 2026.
“Testimonials, as authentic endorsements from satisfied customers, serve as potent social proof, significantly inspiring trust in potential consumers.”
“By working together the Kootenai Winter Travel Collaborative members have created an agreement that will lead to a brighter future for the Kootenai.”
“Testimonials, as authentic endorsements from satisfied customers, serve as potent social proof, significantly inspiring trust in potential consumers.”
The Kootenai Winter Travel Collaborative built trust where many thought it could never be achieved.
If you’re interested in staying informed about implementation of the KWTC vision, consider attending the KFSC board meetings in June and September 2026.