Striking a balance in Beaver Creek Park

It was encouraging to hear that the Hill County Park Board is initiating a process to document a policy for trapping in our Beaver Creek Park.

Hopefully this policy will address more than just lethal trapping of beavers and incorporate a whole park management perspective.

It will be important to document a policy that is consistent with our vision for Beaver Creek Park while being workable and built on valid science, prudent natural resource management, specific infrastructure issues and sound business practices. Striking a balance between recreational, economic, ecological/biological and hydrologic/water quality considerations for the long run will be challenging. 

It is time to stop forcing personal beliefs and agendas on our park. It is time for us to get our heads together, listen to each other, respect differences and work in the interest of all the natural resource values, issues and opportunities we have, and could have, for all the owners and users of our Beaver Creek Park.

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Lou Hagener of Havre is a certified professional in rangeland management by the Society for Range Management, a longtime resident of Havre, user of and advocate for Beaver Creek Park.