HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on the following conservation easement (CE). For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices.
FWP is planning to prepare an environmental analysis on a proposal to purchase a conservation easement within Lincoln, Mineral and Sanders counties. FWP is working with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and Stimson Lumber Company (Stimson) on a proposed project to place 20,824 acres of highly productive timberland under conservation easement.
The proposed conservation easement, to be held by FWP, would ensure the opportunity for landowners to sustainably harvest wood products, preclude residential or commercial development of these timberlands, protect important wildlife habitat and associated key landscape connectivity and provide permanent, free public access to the incorporated affected property. The U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program and grant funding raised by TPL would be likely funding sources if this proposal were to proceed to completion.
This project would conserve a year-round habitat and a movement corridor for elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and moose as well as critical habitat for bull trout, grizzly bear and Canada lynx, species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. CE terms would preclude the human-wildlife conflicts that come with residential development of properties within wildlife habitat, especially those with grizzly bears, black bears and mountain lions. The property currently provides over 6,000 days per year of public hunting access that would be secured in perpetuity under this proposal. The project shares 115 miles of border with U.S. Forest Service and state lands as well as 15 miles of border with privately conserved lands.
Comment deadline: April 30