The Montana Land Reliance reported its year-end 2020 conservation results and the tally shows remarkable accomplishment during a stressed financial period. Congratulations to MLR, and thank you to all the farm and ranch families MLR partnered with to achieve these stunning results.
Good article, and a good example, explaining how land trusts and agencies work with timber companies on projects that maintain forest health and sustainable forest practices, supply logs to mills, protect wildlife habitat and clean water, enhance outdoor recreation and support local economies.
by Brian Ohs, Montana ALE Program Coordinator
As the February 5 deadline approaches for ACEP ALE applications, MALT members and landowners anticipate another standout year for agriculture land conservation in Montana. As always, we encourage all applicants to visit their local USDA FSA office right away, to achieve compliance on the front end of the application process. It is the goal of MALT leadership and land trust practitioners along with the NRCS easement staff to provide complete and fully organized applications, which favors timely and predictable closings for all ALE easements across the state.
This collaboration among landowners, land trusts and the NRCS has been a recipe for impressive agricultural conservation success in the state. Since the inception of the ACEP ALE program in 2014, Montana has conserved over 292,000 acres of private land for production agriculture. Furthermore, the program has also secured $84.2 million for farmers and ranchers from Eureka to Alzada and from Dell to Plentywood.
With the unequalled success of the ALE program in Montana over the last six years, we can expect, and do expect, another round of dynamic projects coming from our excellent land trust community, which would not be possible without the support and involvement of the finest ag producers on the landscape, right here in Montana.
Two recent conservation projects, by two MALT members, about 500 miles apart, showcase the incredible diversity of work and benefits of Montana private land conservation.
Kaniksu Land Trust, in the waning hours of 2020, closed a 44-acre conservation project on the Bull River in far northwestern Montana.
“This is a wonderfully important parcel of land in terms of both wildlife habitat and preservation of the scenic view corridor of the Bull River Valley. KLT is honored to support the permanent protection of this private land and humbled by the landowner’s commitment to preserving a particularly wild corner of western Montana,” said Regan Plumb, KLT Conservation Director, in an article on the KLT website.
Fish, wildlife, and plant communities also benefit from the project. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks have recorded sightings of sensitive species such as grizzly bear and lynx in the area, and the East Fork Bull River is of particular importance to spawning and migrating bull trout. The project area also protects access to several miles of streams that are projected to maintain cold water temperatures despite potentially fluctuating environmental conditions.
Far to the east of the lush Bull River Valley, in the dry desert Breaks, The Conservation Fund is partnering with the Bureau of Land Management. The project calls for TCF to transfer 317 acres of land inside the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument into BLM ownership, opening the land – and adjoining lands – to improved public land access. The project is still under consideration, and a Lee Newspaper article pointed out the BLM is accepting comments on the proposal. LWCF funding helps make the project possible.
In 2020, The Conservation Fund bought the two parcels in Chouteau County, south of Big Sandy, with the idea of one day selling the land to the BLM.
The BLM is proposing to buy the land to “enhance public access and recreation opportunities within the Missouri River corridor; to maintain or improve important wildlife habitat; to consolidate public ownership; and to reduce the management complications common with scattered landownership patterns,” according to the BLM’s environmental assessment.
Story Mill Community Park, a Bozeman city park made possible by efforts led by The Trust for Public Land, is currently enjoying the “Menagerie of the Imaginary.” “Menagerie of the Imaginary” features a wide array if fun exhibits, artwork and projects for people of all ages at Story Mill Park. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle article highlights the activities included as part of the festivities.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation closed 2020 with an impressive milestone: Eight million acres of lifetime conservation work over its 36-year history.
“This is a noteworthy landmark and one worth celebrating, yet what we’re really talking about is significant, measurable on the ground conservation accomplishment that permanently protects or enhances wildlife habitat across elk country and benefits a majestic and iconic species,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “The trickle down effects also positively impact countless game and non-game species alike, improve public access and benefit our hunting tradition.”
In 2020 RMEF closed at least 21 land conservation projects in 10 different states. RMEF also collaborated with partners to contribute millions of dollars in grants for forest thinning, prescribed burns, invasive weed treatments, the establishment of wildlife water sources and other habitat enhancement and hunting heritage projects as well as elk-related scientific research.
“This milestone would not be possible without the support of our volunteers, members, partners and sportsmen and women,” added Weaver. “No matter where you are on any one of these eight million acres, there’s a good chance you will catch a whiff of the unmistakable scent of elk. Because every foot of land we protected, enhanced or opened to public access is elk habitat. And going forward, we have much more to do.”
The Trust for Public Land and Flathead Land Trust have teamed up with F. H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Company to create a 1,072-acre working forest surrounded by forested public land north of Whitefish Lake near Olney.
The project, which closed in late December 2020, transferred land ownership to Stoltze under the terms of a conservation easement held by FLT. The project was put together by TPL, who had owned the land since 2017, when it had been gifted to them by Cindy and Alan Horn.
The end result, reports both TPL and FLT, is a working forest that provides public access and wildlife habitat conservation.
Three great statements from the FLT website:
“This project is just one chapter in our long history of conserving working forests in Montana,” said Dick Dolan, Northern Rockies Regional Director for The Trust for Public Land, “We are proud to be able to preserve some of the region’s most special places for outdoor recreation, while also ensuring the health and continuity of sustainable forestry. This project would not have been possible without the support of our exceptional partners.”
“This incredible property is now conserved in perpetuity and protects important wildlife habitat and water quality along the Stillwater River, as well as open space and forest resources for sustainable management,” said Paul Travis, Executive Director of the Flathead Land Trust. “The conservation easement also secures access for the use and enjoyment of the public adjacent to other public lands. As the Flathead’s community-based land trust, we are proud to be a partner on this significant forestland conservation project with The Trust for Public Land and F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co.”
“Putting this property under conservation easement and long-term sustainable forest management is a great example of how healthy forests support healthy communities, both the two- and four-legged kind,” said Paul McKenzie, Lands & Resource manager for Stoltze.
The Lost Trail Conservation Easement provides recreational access while ensuring sustainable timber harvesting.
“This project truly meets a triple bottom line by providing outdoor access for the community, protecting wildlife habitat and ensuring timber harvesting can continue. It’s projects like this that demonstrate the power of conservation for communities across Montana. We’re grateful to the partnership and support of SPP and FWP in making this project a reality,” said Catherine Schmidt, a Trust for Public Land field representative.
Lost Trail Conservation Easement
The Nature Conservancy in Montana has finalized a 12,308-acre transaction with the US Forest Service that improves forest management, retains recreational access and protects wildlife habitat in the headwaters of the Blackfoot and Clearwater rivers.
The Missoulian article points out the unique and valuable recreational and conservation aspects of the project, which transfers the lands into public ownership managed by the USFS:
The mountains harbor significant populations of deer and elk, threatened bull trout and grizzly bears. They are also popular with snowmobilers and backcountry skiers, anglers, backpackers, berry-pickers and mountain bikers. The Rattlesnake and Mission Mountain wilderness areas and the Flathead Indian Reservation’s South Jocko Primitive Area border this forest.
“This is the culmination of a great partnership with TNC and other partners in that particular landscape,” said Lolo District Ranger Jen Hensiek, whose jurisdiction abuts Carver’s. “I know our kids and kids’ kids are going to be able to enjoy that landscape. It allows more wildlife continuity, more recreation access into those areas, and into the (Rattlesnake) national recreation area. And I know it comes with some work.”
Headwaters Montana, a conservation organization operating in the greater Flathead area for 13 years, announced in December it would be closing its doors at the end of the year.
In a Kalispell Daily Inter Lake article, the Bigfork-based organization announced it was making donations to the Montana Land Reliance Bigfork Natural Area Project and to the Flathead Land Trust Bad Rock Canyon Project.
