Land Trust News

Kelly Kountz Photo / Courtesy of Gallatin Valley Land Trust

US House Passes Permanent Reauthorization of the LWCF

The US House of Representatives voted 363-62 on Feb. 27 to pass permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and a public lands package that includes conservation measures for Montana. The bill was sent to the President’s desk where his signature is expected, and when it happens it will be final step that accomplishes a historical conservation accomplishment. All three members of the Montana Congressional Delegation vocally supported passage of S. 47, the bill that contains the LWCF reauthorization and the public lands package. Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte spoke on the House floor in favor of LWCF reauthorization and in favor of the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, which would eliminate 30,000 acres in the Paradise Valley from mining.

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TPL’s Story Mill Community Park Includes Housing

Story Mill Community Park, a gift to Bozeman residents made possible through leadership from The Trust for Public Land, is making progress on a housing component affiliated with the park. A Feb. 22 Chronicle article touted TPL’s partnership with Bozeman HRDC on a proposed subsidized housing project to adjoin the Story Mill Park complex. The plan is smaller homes, featuring accessibility to the city’s new community park, a combination that fits with TPL’s vision that everyone live within a 10-minute walking distance of a park.

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RMEF Hosts Interactive Elk Migration Display

A collaborative effort by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the National Geographic Society has generated an interactive exhibit now on display at RMEF headquarters in Missoula that shows the year-around migration of elk across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The exhibit, titled Invisible Boundaries, is a highly interactive exhibit created by National Geographic and based on years of scientific data. “This is an amazing exhibit that follows the migration routes of nine different elk herds throughout the Yellowstone region,“ said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “We appreciate the good folks at National Geographic in allowing us to host this display and we encourage everyone to come check it out.“ Added Chris Johns, Beyond Yellowstone program leader for the National Geographic Society, “The Invisible Boundaries exhibit ended up at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation because that’s where it belongs. RMEF is about elk and education and helping people understand the intricacies and wonder of elk.“ RMEF is located at 5705 Grant Creek Road in Missoula.

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Five Valleys Land Trust Wrapping Up Projects Near Philipsburg, Garrison

Five Valleys Land Trust and a diverse array of project partners are actively working to close two conservation projects, one near Philipsburg (Buxbaum-Boulder Ranch) and one close to Garrison (Graveley Ranch). The Missoula Current article details the status of the two separate projects, which total over 4,200 acres of conservation. Five Valleys led the way on the two projects, with help from several key partners, including The Conservation Fund; Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks; Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Natural Resource Damages Program. In the article, Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission chair Dan Vermillion “heaped praise on the conservation easements and all the partners who made them happen.” “It may not appear to folks right now that this is really important. But I can guarantee that in 100 years, people will be thanking you for getting this done,” Vermillion said.

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Senate Passes Permanent LWCF Reauthorization 92-8

The US Senate voted 92-8 yesterday to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. That’s historically important bipartisan support for conservation and outdoor recreation. Montana Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines helped lead passage of S. 47 and are strong and consistent LWCF advocates. The measure now goes to the US House for passage and then to the President for his signature.

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Two Land Trusts Apply for FWP Trails Grants

Bitter Root Land Trust, continuing to expand its conservation and outdoor recreation service to Ravalli County, is seeking a $98,985 Montana Recreation Trails Program grant to help build trails at the proposed new Skalkaho Bend Park in Hamilton. The Ravalli Republic reported BRLT is one of three Ravalli County entities applying for funding within the program. Over $3.5 million of requests have been submitted for $1.5 million in available funding. Another Montana land trust applying for FWP trails funding in 2019 is Five Valleys Land Trust, which is seeking an $80,540 grant to expand trails at the Mount Dean Stone project.

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LWCF Advances in US Senate

Good day yesterday for the LWCF in the US Senate. Strong bipartisan majority of Senators votes to deny two amendments hostile to the LWCF. There’s still more work to do, but thanks to Senators Daines and Tester for their votes in support of the LWCF. The land trust community developed a guest column that details the incredible value of LWCF to Montana.

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