A featured article in the Flathead Beacon outlines the progress – as well as the challenges and value – of the Bad Rock Canyon conservation project along the Flathead River in northwest Montana.

     The project, led by Flathead Land Trust and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, seeks to conserve close to 800 acres of prime wildlife habitat that contains 1.6 miles of the Flathead River at the former Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. property. The project has been endorsed by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission and local partners that include CFAC’s parent company Glencore, the City of Columbia Falls, and MTFWP.

     The project seeks to raise $7.1 million to purchase the property, with ownership transferred to FWP and managed as a wildlife management area. FLT is leading the fundraising effort, and has already raised $5.5 million. 

     “Most of this funding has come from large federal and state grants and we hope much of the remaining needed funding will come from a state grant,” according to Laura Katzman of Flathead Land Trust. “However, these federal and state grants require matching funds. We have about $350,000 left to raise in needed match [grants] and we have some exciting news. Three generous donors have offered to contribute up to $100,000 toward this needed match if we can raise $100,000 from community members by July 15.”