BRIEFS

FEDS ASSESS IDAHO WOLF PLAN

IDAHO - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment of Idaho Department of Fish and Game's request to manage gray wolves in the Lolo Elk Management Zone in north central Idaho in response to impacts of wolf predation on elk.

The Idaho proposal, if approved, would allow the state to reduce (through lethal means) the wolf population in the Lolo Zone to a minimum of 20 to 30 wolves in three to five packs from a current estimated level of 60 to 80 wolves. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game conducted a peer review and hosted a 14-day public comment period on the Lolo Zone proposal prior to submitting it to the Service.

For the entire Lolo Zone, the state's 2010 survey estimated the population at 1,358 cow elk and 594 bull elk. The state's zone-wide objectives are 6,100 - 9,100 cow elk and 1,300 - 1,900 bull elk. According to an analysis provided by the State of Idaho to support its application, "wolves are one of the major causes, if not the major cause, of the current population decline."

The state asserts that consequently, wolf predation is preventing cow elk abundance from reaching state management objectives. The state has implemented other conservation measures, including more liberal hunting seasons and bag limits for black bears and mountain lions, habitat improvement through prescribed burning and modifications to elk hunting frameworks that have reduced harvest, in an effort to address other factors that might influence growth rates of the Lolo Zone elk population.

The Notice of Availability of the EA is available on the Federal Register website at http://www.regulations.gov. The public is encouraged to review the draft EA and submit comments on site-specific effects of the proposed action.

Comments must be received within 30 days, on or before March 14, 2011. The Service will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov.

For more information or for a copy of the materials, contact the Service's Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office at 208- 378-5796.

The draft EA is also available on the Idaho Fish and Wildlife web site at http://www.fws.gov/idaho, along with the state's proposal, peer review and the state's responses to the peer review.

ALTAR SOCIETY ELECTS OFFICERS

WALLA WALLA - The St. Mark Altar Society gathered on Feb. 10 for a luncheon at Jeanne Lincoln's home in Walla Walla, with Ava Jean Gagnon and Jody Peck assisting.

During the regular meeting the election of officers for 2011-2012 was held: President Mary Phillips, Vice President B. A. Keve, Secretary Dorothy Hall, Treasurer Mary Tompkins, and Historian Mary Mathews.

The next meeting will be a luncheon at Sterlings Restaurant in Walla Walla, with Dorothy Hall as hostess, on March 10, 12:30 p.m.

EXCHANGE PROGRAM EVENT

DAYTON - On Thursday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. foreign exchange students at Dayton High School will present a one-hour program in the high school auditorium. Students will tell a little about their country and their experiences in the U.S. This would be a good time for those interested to ask some questions about how to become a host family.