The Vital Ground Foundation and partners have conserved 215 acres of critical wildlife habitat in northwestern Montana along the Yaak River. It’s a relatively small number of acres that produces a large positive impact.

With the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust providing a grant to enable the project, Vital Ground has purchased 215 acres of prime grizzly habitat along the Yaak River and Lap Creek, establishing the Broadie Habitat Preserve. Beyond helping grizzlies, the effort will support a mosaic of biodiversity, including the nationally threatened Canada lynx and bull trout along with state-designated species of concern such as wolverine and Westslope cutthroat trout.

“Between the Yaak River and Lap Creek, nearly a mile’s worth of stream frontage occurs on the property, which illustrates how even a modestly-sized acquisition like this can provide outsized conservation benefits,” says Ryan Lutey, Vital Ground’s executive director. “Protection of this important river bottom can help filter and store water to augment downstream water quality, and its location at the confluence of these two streams provides high quality fish habitat while meeting important seasonal needs for wildlife species that range far beyond the property’s boundaries.”

Gallatin Valley Land Trust in Bozeman has officially acquired a 160-acre parcel within the Middle Cottonwood Trail access corridor that will ensure permanent access along the trail and also conserve wildlife habitat. GVLT plans to donate the property to the USFS, which manages the Middle Cottonwood Trail and the surrounding public land. Check out the Bozeman Daily Chronicle coverage.

“This property is a gem and is a tremendous resource for the community. It took a willing and dedicated land owner committed to conservation to get this done,” said Brendan Weiner, Program Director at GVLT. The property appraised for $752,000 and the landowner – Michael Skogen – donated over half of the property value towards the project.

The scenic property is located in the West Bridger Mountains, approximately six miles northeast of Bozeman. The community will now have public access to all 160 acres of the highly scenic parcel, where trail users have spotted an array of wildlife including mule deer, elk, moose, mountain goats, and eagles. A pristine, spring-fed creek flows through the property to Middle Cottonwood Creek, surrounded by aspen groves and mature forests. Previous development proposals for the property have recommended moving the trail, but GVLT’s purchase permanently removes the threat of development.

“Development of the property would result in significant negative impacts to the trail corridor and the surrounding habitat and would dramatically change the trail user experience,” said Weiner. “We are thrilled to have the acquisition complete.”

From the Bonner County Bee: “Nature is open. Play it safe.” That is the message from Idaho land trusts that operate nature reserves open to the public across Idaho. Kaniksu Land Trust, based in Sandpoint, ID, is a member of the Montana Association of Land Trusts.

“It is heartening to see more people getting outdoors with their families during these difficult times,” said Katie Cox, executive director of the Kaniksu Land Trust in Sandpoint. “While our visitors are enjoying these beautiful places, we ask them to follow guidelines for responsible outdoor recreation, including maintaining appropriate social distance on trails.”

Kaniksu Land Trust owns and manages Pine Street Woods, a 180-acre forest that features community outdoor education, recreational hiking/biking/skiing trails, and conservation.

Photo from Kaniksu Land Trust

The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting many unpleasant and unfortunate responses and actions, but within all the negatives is a positive, at least in the Missoula area: More people are purchasing local beef. And some of that local beef comes from Oxbow Cattle Co., owned by Bart and Wendy Morris. Five Valleys Land Trust and Oxbow Cattle finalized a conservation easement on the ranch in 2017, and the Morris’ received the 2019 Missoula County Land Stewardship Award. 

“For us, business is really good,” said co-owner/manager Bart Morris in a Missoulian article. “We lost a lot of restaurants, which breaks our heart, but our little store and direct sales are doing really good.”

Later in the article, Morris says they’re seeing a lot of growth in housing around the ranch, and he hopes to be the local meat supplier for his neighbors. “We’re hoping to be here for a long time,” he said. “We got a lot of different things going on, a lot of community-based things.”

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation celebrated its volunteers during National Volunteer Week, and thanked the many volunteers that help RMEF generate conservation, access and habitat.

“Our mission success is a product of the time, effort and talents put forth by our volunteers,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “They raise critical funding and perform hands on work that allows us to carry out our mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. Beyond raising funds and delivering mission, our volunteers are true champions in representing everything RMEF stands for in towns all across America.”

RMEF volunteers in more than 500 chapters nationwide host banquets, membership drives and other events. They also take part in on-the-ground habitat enhancement work such as fence pulls, noxious weed treatments, building wildlife water sources, planting seedlings and other projects that enhance elk country.

Additionally, they freely give of their time for archery and firearm shooting teams, outdoor youth camps and seminars, and other activities that educate boys, girls, men and women about the importance of conservation and the role hunting plays in it.

There is a lot to read – and to appreciate – in the 2019 Cinnabar Foundation Annual Report.

The report, released last week, discusses an emerging entity named the Montana Conservation Funders Roundtable and its commitment to enduring conservation, highlights Rock Ringling’s receipt of the Jim Posewitz Professional Conservationist Award, announces its 2019 partner grantees, and under the headline of A Sharp Conservation Focus features an article on MALT from MALT board president Gavin Ricklefs. 

Everyone affiliated with MALT and Montana private land conservation are deeply appreciative of the Cinnabar Foundation’s longstanding commitment to MALT, its membership, and Montana private land conservation.

Flathead Land Trust has worked with landowner Dean Robbins to conserve a key parcel of land along Wileys Slough in the lower Flathead Valley.

FLT reports the 26-acre donated conservation easement “contains 982 feet of shoreline along Wileys Slough and is adjacent to and contiguous with 1,235 acres of private land already conserved at Wileys Slough. It is also adjacent to the Lakeside Water and Sewer District agricultural properties. Conserving this property ensures that its agricultural open space, 100-year floodplain and important riparian vegetation along Wileys Slough will be protected in perpetuity.”

Robbins’ ties to the property date back to 1883 when his great-grandfather, Christian Hvila Wiley, purchased the property. 

Missoula County is accepting nominations until May 1 for the Missoula County Land Stewardship Award. The award recognizes the conservation contributions of county residents and individuals connected to private land conservation have been recipients of the award in the past, including Bart and Wendy Morris, local ranchers who received the award in 2019.

From the Missoula County website: Landowners and residents throughout Missoula County take stewardship of land and water seriously. Many embark on projects and practices that make a difference… Do you know a friend or neighbor who’s doing great work restoring, protecting, or enhancing land, water, and other natural resources? Nominate them for the 2020 Land Stewardship Award!

The Prickly Pear Land Trust first-ever Don’t Fence Me in Virtual Trail Run and Trail Challenge is officially underway, with an April 15 start. The event runs through June 30.

The PPLT website explains all the details but basically, outside of elite or very serious runners, it could be viewed as a six-week fun run. PPLT says the virtual event promises “More races, more prizes, more participation, and more community spirit.”

Register and run any of the four race courses before June 30, turn in your times, and you’ll be eligible for prizes. Registration is open, and ends June 1. PPLT has pledged to throw a “massive (CDC compliant) public celebration” when the coast is clear for such gatherings.

Five Valleys Land Trust Beers and Cheers: Live From the Field featured some compelling acting, impressive news reporting, and outstanding storytelling on Friday, April 17. Beers and Cheers was part of the Five Valleys “Un-Banquet” and featured “live remote “ stories from Anchorwoman Alice Jones and onsite reporters Vickie Edwards, Sarah Richey and Ryan Stutzman. (See the photo attached to MALT email). The Beers and Cheers YouTube broadcast announced the winner of the Battle of the Mounts, with Mount Dean Stone edging Mount Jumbo in what many observers considered an upset. The event also wrapped up the “Un-Banquet” online auction.