Flathead Land Trust will take to the water on July 20 for a kayak and canoe float along the Flathead River. The float (four or six mile floats available) will take participants past existing, ongoing and future conservation efforts. The trip starts at 9:00 AM. Contact Laura Katzman (lkatzman@flatheadlandtrust.org) at FLT for details. Participants should RSVP by July 17.
Prickly Pear Land Trust Celebrates Trails Anniversary
Prickly Pear Land Trust will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the South Hills Trails System in Helena with a celebration on July 18 in downtown Helena. The festive anniversary will start about 5:00 PM outside of Ten Mile Creek Brewery and The Hawthorne and will offer music, food trucks, and much more. Swing by and help celebrate the Helena area community trails system.
Don’t Miss Bitter Root Land Trust Barn Dance on July 27
Bitter Root Land Trust will be kicking up its heels during a July 27 barn dance at the Trexler Ranch near Corvallis. The event features 4-H youth roping, music by the Ruby Valley Boys, lawn games, Trexler Ranch beef and more. The event starts at 5:00 PM and tickets are on sale now through the BRLT website.
Five Valleys Land Trust Joins RecCon Montana Event
Five Valleys Land Trust will be promoting Mount Dean Stone and celebrating outdoor recreation on July 19-20 at the RecCon Montana event at Fort Missoula. RecCon (Recreation Convention) is all about the great outdoors, including outdoor retailers, guiding and outfitting, a broad range of outdoor enthusiasts and more. FVLT will be on hand to discuss its conservation projects.
TPL Stillwater Celebration Set for July 10 in Whitefish
The Trust for Public Land and project partners will be celebrating the Stillwater Conservation Project on Wednesday, July 10, in Whitefish, with a project site visit and reception at Grouse Mountain Lodge. The site visit will take place at 4:00 PM and the reception runs 5:30 – 7:30 PM. During the site visit, new kiosk and interpretive signs will be unveiled. The $40 million, conservation award winning Stillwater Conservation Project tapped the Land and Water Conservation Fund and several other funding sources to purchase nearly 14,000 acres of private forestland in the Whitefish area in a cooperative effort with Montana FWP and Montana DNRC. Montana DNRC now owns the land as part of the Stillwater State Forest, and FWP holds a conservation easement on the property, assuring forest health, wildlife conservation, and public access.
Flathead Land Trust Celebrates New Fish Pond
Flathead Land Trust, the City of Columbia Falls, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks – with dozens of kids – recently celebrated National Go Fishing Day at the improved River’s Edge Park. The Flathead Beacon reports FLT executive director Paul Travis as saying the upgraded park project “fit into the FLT mission of conservation through individual engagement and education.“ FLT helped lead the effort on the community project.
Senator Daines Calls LWCF ‘Incredible Driver’ of Montana’s Economy
In a Senate hearing today Montana Senator Steve Daines terms the LWCF an “incredible driver” of Montana’s economy and “absolutely critical” to outdoor recreation. Thanks to Sen. Daines for his commitment to permanent dedicated LWCF funding.
Welcome to Montana, NRCS Chief Matt Lohr
Matthew Lohr, Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service since December 2018, will be in Montana this week learning more about NRCS Montana operations, including Montana land trust engagement in the ALE Program. The Montana Association of Land Trusts membership and staff are thrilled that the Chief is visiting Montana and applauds Montana State Conservationist Tom Watson for including land trusts and the Montana ALE Program success in the Chief’s itinerary while he’s in Montana. Chief Lohr was raised on a Virginia farm and is a former Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He has worked for Farm Credit of the Virginias, served in the Virginia House of Delegates, and since 2017 farmed full-time on the family’s agricultural operation, which includes beef cattle, poultry, row crops and corn. Welcome, Chief Lohr, and the Montana land trust community looks forward to visiting with you.
Prickly Pear Land Trust Secures Helena Trail Corridor
Prickly Pear Land Trust’s long commitment to Mount Helena City Park and local trails and recreation has led to PPLT’s pending transfer of 72 acres to the City of Helena to secure trail access and improve resource management. The Helena Independent Record tells the story of a long process, several project partners, and multiple benefits of the project.
Story Mill Community Park Readies for July 20 Grand Opening
Bozeman’s Story Mill Community Park, seven years and $16.3 million in the making, will officially open on July 20. A Bozeman Daily Chronicle article details the work by The Trust for Public Land, TPL’s Maddy Pope and project partners to plan and construct the diverse, creative, and functional 60-acre park.