A 2017 survey by the Montana Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research shows 63,000 hikers, runners, and bikers recreated on Helena’s South Trails in 2017. The report, released through Prickly Pear Land Trust last week, also shows users of the trails spent over $4 million in the local area in the summer of 2017. “PPLT strives for bettering quality of life benchmarks and this real-time data provides important information to assist in our planning and understanding of the economic and social impacts of our South Hills land acquisition and trails work,“ said PPLT executive director Mary Hollow. “It was wonderful to see the high values placed on our work in building the South Hills land estate and establishing and maintaining the trails system with the city of Helena and U.S. Forest Service over the years.”
Gazette Opinion: Ranchers, Public Win with Horse Creek Easement
The Billings Gazette strongly endorsed a proposed eastern Montana conservation easement by MT FWP that would generate hunter access, conserve wildlife habitat, retain agricultural production and protect property rights. The editorial strongly encourages the Montana Land Board to approve the easement at its March meeting. MALT testified in support of the easement at the February Land Board meeting.
These Snails Even Run in Winter
Prickly Pear Land Trust in Helena has organized a friendly group of trail runners who run each Tuesday at noon, and they call themselves the Happy Snails.
Gallatin County Commissioners Advance Open Space Ballot Measure
Gallatin County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution on Feb. 27 that recommends a mill levy go on the June 2018 primary ballot to fund the county’s open space program and pay for some work at the Gallatin County Regional Park. The commission will hold a final vote on the ballot language at its meeting next week. Montana land trusts have been advocating for the June open space ballot measure, which if passed would provide close to $20 million over a 15-year period.
Bitter Root Land Trust Helping Expand Hamilton City Park
The Bitter Root Land Trust is working with the city of Hamilton and others to create “an incredible community asset for a long, long time.”
Gallatin County Seeking to Balance Conservation and Growth
“This valley is going to keep on growing, the wave is coming, we’re not here to stop it,” said Mark Kehke, board president of Gallatin Valley Land Trust. He said partnerships with the community, city and county could help direct where growth happens, “or maybe, more importantly, where growth doesn’t happen.”
Montana TNC Featured at Forest Landowner Conference
Steve Kloetzel and Chris Bryant of The Nature Conservancy in Montana are featured presenters at the Ninth Annual Forest Landowner Conference, set for the Helena Radisson Colonial Hotel on Friday, April 27. The conference is sponsored by the Montana Forest Stewardship Foundation and Northwest Management, Inc. The conference theme is “Becoming the Best Forest Steward Possible” and starts at 8:30 am. At 8:45 am, Steve and Chris will present during the opening session and discuss TNC’s forest properties and forest management objectives.
Land Board Delays Vote on Eastern Montana Conservation Easement
Proposed conservation easement offers wildlife habitat, agricultural stability, abundant hunting and recreational access, and legal opportunity for oil and gas production. The Montana Association of Land Trusts is a proponent of the proposal.
Land Trusts Seek Levy for Gallatin Valley Open Land
After months of discussions, research and planning with local officials, Gallatin County land trusts are advocating an open land levy vote in June, a move supported by the Gallatin County Commission.
TPL Helps Orchestrate Whitefish Forest Project
The Trust for Public Land, two state agencies, the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Weyerhaeuser have teamed up to conserve over 7,000 acres of forestland near Whitefish in northwest Montana. The Flathead Beacon reported that the complex transaction called for TPL to purchase the land from Weyerhaeuser, and after the fee title purchase, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks purchased a conservation easement on the property that allows for sustainable forest management of the property. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation closed purchase of the land on Feb. 15, and will manage it as part of the Stillwater State Forest. Montana’s two senators support the deal. Listing its benefits, Sen. Jon Tester called it a “win-win-win-win-win.“ Sen. Steve Daines said, “It’s good to see federal, state and private partners come together to protect public access and timber management.”