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Gallatin Community Collaborative moves forward
Published
11 years agoon
By Emily Wolfe Explore Big Sky Managing Editor
BOZEMAN – The Gallatin Community Collaborative is making progress – and it’s a marathon, not a sprint, says facilitator Jeff Goebel.
In late November, stakeholders interested in the longstanding land use controversy between motorized and non–motorized users in the Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo-Horn Wilderness Study Area met for evening workshops in Livingston, Gardiner and West Yellowstone, and a three-day workshop at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds in Bozeman. In total, more than 200 people participated in these workshops, which followed a series of meetings around the region in October.
“Each community has its own culture, is one of the things I’m learning,” Goebel said. In West and Livingston, more of the motorized users attended the meetings, he said, while Gardiner had a fairly balanced showing of user groups, and Bozeman was more weighted toward the wilderness perspective.
“Really what ended up coming out of the end of that was a realization about how important it is to get the different parties together and to be able to learn from each other. There is a real desire by the very dominant user group – the motorized group – that they wanted to learn from the other views. They wanted to hear more from the wilderness perspective.”
Goebel designed the three-stage community workshop series with a goal of establishing trust and building relationships among participants.
The participants all wrote down their ideas for the “best outcomes” for the Gallatin Range, which Goebel is posting at gallatincollaborative.org.
An exploratory committee for the GCC spent the last two years building the preliminary guidelines for a future collaborative group that will work toward a management solution for the 155,000-acre HPBH WSA.
The purposes of these meetings, Goebel said, is “to explore the change that is desired for the communities surrounding the Gallatin Range, design the operating structure of the Gallatin Community Collaborative, and develop new and more effective ways of valuing the people involved in the region.”
In October, the workshops were focused on understanding conflict – “what goes on when conflict begins,” Goebel explained, “not just in the situation with wilderness but also with conflict in general in the region.”
The November sessions focused on perceptions of power, strength and dominance.
Ultimately, Goebel said, “It’s national land, but … if local people figure out how to solve this, there’s a very good chance that will resonate with people nationally.”
In the next set of workshops, set for Jan. 9-11 in Livingston, Goebel plans to lead a more localized discussion – “not making decisions, [just] exploring possibilities.”
Congress designated the WSA in 1977 to “preserve its existing wilderness character” until a long-term decision about management and protection could be made. With the National Forest considering revisions to its management plan and no litigation pending, the committee hopes a future collaborative group will create a “broad, adaptive and durable” resolution it can present to the Gallatin National Forest and federal elected officials.
Gallatin Collaborative meetings
Thursday, Jan. 9, 1–9 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 10, 1–9 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 11, 1–9 p.m.
Best Western
1515 W Park St, Livingston, MT
Food and refreshments will be served. RSVP at gallatincollaborative.org
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
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october, 2024
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Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
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July 29 (Monday) 6:00 pm - October 7 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description
Event Details
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description information. Please wear layers, bring water and snacks. Bear spray recommended.
Time
August 5 (Monday) 9:00 am - October 7 (Monday) 12:00 pm
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
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August 5 (Monday) 6:00 pm - October 14 (Monday) 6:00 pm
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Join Santosha, BASE and Gourmet Gals to bring you a donation based all levels community yoga lunch break class every Wednesday throughout the summer. It will be
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Event Details
Join Santosha, BASE and Gourmet Gals to bring you a donation based all levels community yoga lunch break class every Wednesday throughout the summer. It will be taught by a variety of teachers from Santosha and BASE. This summer all proceeds will go to Big Sky Band-Aid, aside from the first one on the 26th that is happening during Pride week- all funds donated for that class will go to Big Sky OUT. A delicious lunch will also be served by Gourmet Gals following our practice each Wednesday (included in donation). You are welcome to donate with cash at the event or you can Venmo @Santoshabigsky and make a note for Community Yoga. Hope to see you in the Park!
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August 7 (Wednesday) 12:00 pm - October 7 (Monday) 1:00 pm
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Len Hill Park