Forest Service Plan to Poison Montana Creek Rejected by Court

The Forest Service must reassess a plan to eradicate a “functionally invasive” rainbow trout population in the Custer Gallatin National Forest and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, after a federal judge ruled the project’s use of motorized pumps to apply poison to the streams would unlawfully trammel protected wildlife.

The agency violated the Wilderness Act’s requirements to leave a wilderness area “unimpaired for future use and enjoyment,” as the Forest Service would disturb the watershed with loud equipment including drip stations and generators as well as dozens of helicopter flights to transport personnel, the US District Court for the District of Montana said. ...