SB 24, the bill that expands funding for Montana State Parks and for new trails passed the House last week 65-31 in the third reading floor vote and also passed the House Appropriations Committee by 16-6, and now awaits the Governor’s signature into law. The bill is expected to produce close to $2 million per year for state parks, fishing access sites and Virginia and Nevada cities. Also, within that $2 million will be close to $950,000 per year in trails funding. SB 24 was sponsored by Sen Terry Gauthier (R-Helena) and supported by a broad coalition that included Prickly Pear Land Trust and MALT. MALT extends its appreciation to Sen. Gauthier (right) and coalition leader Bob Walker for their strong leadership on this bill, to the entire coalition membership as well as the legislators who voted in favor of SB 24.
News
The Nature Conservancy Matador Ranch Land/Science Symposium On Tap June 12
The 9th Annual Matador Ranch Science and Land Management Symposium is set for Wednesday, June 12, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, at The Nature Conservancy Matador Ranch in north central Montana. The symposium offers an opportunity to engage researchers and land managers (private landowners, agency, and non-profit), with presentations focused on current or recently completed research. Examples of presentation topics include land management tools and innovations, and opportunities for cooperation between conservation and ranching communities in the grasslands and sagebrush steppe in the northern Great Plains and beyond. For more information contact Brian Martin at TNC or Jolynn Messerly, Matador Ranch Operations Administrator via email at jmesserly@tnc.org, or 406-673-3344 (Office) or 406-945-0378 (Cell). Presentation titles and short summaries are due by May 17.
GVLT’s NextGen Advisory Council Looking Ahead
The guest column in the April 13 edition of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle contained this paragraph: “With a median age of 27, Bozeman is a young city, providing a huge opportunity for our peers to shape the region in the decades to come. That’s why it’s so heartening that the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) is committed to making sure our demographic is seen and heard in their mission of conserving open space and creating trails.” The article was submitted by a quartet of four young professionals who serve on the GVLT NextGen Advisory Board, a group of young Gallatin area professionals who focus not just on conservation in perpetuity, but “conservation leadership perpetuity.”
Flathead Land Trust Solstice Party Set for June 21
Flathead Land Trust, Flathead Lakers, and the Flathead River to Lake Initiative will be celebrating Flathead River conservation and the longest day of the summer with an event on the North Shore of Flathead Lake at the Hormuth’s Rivers End Ranch.
Gallatin Valley Land Trust Expanding Trails to the ‘M’
Gallatin Valley Land Trust and the City of Bozeman continue to work on community trails expansion that would link downtown Bozeman with the “M” Trail and other trails. GVLT Executive Director Penelope Pierce said this next phase will fulfill a major piece of GVLT founder Chris Boyd’s vision. “A trail from the library all the way to the Bridgers, the M Trail, and to the mountains to the south with the Painted Hills Trails,“ she said. “There has always been that gap along Bringer Canyon Drive; we have been trying to figure that piece of the puzzle out for 29 years.“ The city announced Thursday that construction has begun on the long-awaited path linking town to the “M,“ the most-used trail in the Gallatin National Forest, and Drinking Horse Mountain.
Senator Daines Encourages IRS Commission to Crack Down on Syndication
Montana Senator Steve Daines, during a Senate hearing, encouraged the IRS Commission to continue legal and procedural efforts to stop the syndicated abuse of conservation easement transactions. Daines made it clear in his comments that traditional conservation as conducted in Montana benefits the public in many ways, but syndicated easement transactions are abusive use of this legitimate conservation tool.
Montana Senators Tester and Daines Lead LWCF Funding Effort
Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester are leading the charge for permanent dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The two Montana Senators have signed a Dear Colleague Letter seeking FY20 LWCF funding and are original cosponsors of Senate legislation establishing permanent and dedicated funding for the LWCF. Thank you, Senators!
Smith Family, NRCS, MLR Team Up for Ag Conservation
Great example of landowner conservation in cooperation with USDA/NRCS and The Montana Land Reliance. The conservation on the private land makes management of the surrounding public land more important, and the management on the public land makes the conservation on private land more valuable. Impressive results from good people working within a good program.
Land Trust Leads New Park Along the Bitterroot River
Wonderful community conservation in Hamilton. Great job by Bitter Root Land Trust and everyone involved. City of Hamilton, local residents, The Conservation Fund and others helping to create major new outdoor asset for the community of Hamilton.
Land Trusts Rally in the Capitol on April 11
The agenda is set, the land trust community has been provided details and information about the day’s activities, and Prickly Pear Land Trust is (thank you) arranging lunch in the Capitol Rotunda for Land Trust Day in the Capitol on April 11. The event gets underway at 10:00 AM with a greeting from Sen. Terry Gauthier (R-Helena) on the second floor in the Rotunda. Other activities include land trust exhibits in the Rotunda, informal discussions with legislators, a land trust-hosted lunch for 250 in the Rotunda, recognition for land trusts from the House and Senate floor and a meeting with Governor Bullock. Land trusts are reminded to let Glenn Marx know who from your organization is able to attend, so we can get that list to the Governor during the afternoon of April 8. Please contact Glenn with questions or comments about the day’s activities.