FWP Commission Approves New Land Conservation Projects

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Headlines

This article was Archived on Friday, July 18, 2008

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commissioners approved land acquisitions that will secure nearly 5,000 acres for wildlife habitat and increase public access to hunting and fishing.

"These land deals are carefully thought out and involve a variety of partners interested in making an enduring difference for wildlife and for the people of Montana, " said Jeff Hagener, FWP director.

The projects will:

• conserve winter range and lambing habitat for the migratory Thompson Falls bighorn sheep herd;
• expand and enhance habitat for bighorn sheep, mule deer and elk adjacent to the Blue-Eyed Nellie Wildlife Management Area west of Anaconda; and
• secure about 4,600 acres of wildlife habitat on the north bank of the Yellowstone River 30 miles east of Billings, a portion of which may be suitable for management as a state park.

  The Habitat Montana program played a critical role in these acquisitions. The Montana Legislature first authorized Habitat Montana in 1987 and reauthorized it in 2006. It makes approximately $3 - $4 million available annually, depending on license sales, for land acquisitions that secure wildlife habitat and public hunting access.

Here are the details on the three acquisitions:

 

Billings Area:

The Circle R River Ranch, on the north bank of the Yellowstone River, 30 miles east of Billings, will be purchased for approximately $5.3 million, most of it funded by the Habitat Montana Program. The project includes 3,976 deeded acres, 621 acres of leased State School Trust land managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and 69 acres of federal Bureau of Land Management property.

Access Montana Program funds will contribute to the purchase of the Circle R River Ranch, a portion of which may be suitable for a future state park facility. Governor Brian Schweitzer requested and the Montana Legislature approved nearly $10 million in Access Montana funds in 2007 to increase publicly held Fishing Access Sites and state parks in the face of continued population growth and increasing land values.

The Circle R River Ranch supports deer, turkeys, pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, bobcat, and beaver. In total, 15 species identified as most in need of conservation in Montana’s Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy are found here, including a large black-tailed prairie dog colony.  

Public ownership of the land will also provide access to an additional 4,760 acres of School Trust and BLM land accessible now only by boat from the Yellowstone River.

 

Anaconda Area:

Nearly 300 acres of wildlife habitat west of Anaconda will be acquired and managed as part of the existing Blue-Eyed Nellie Wildlife Management Area. The parcel, which is also within two miles of the Garrity and Lost Creek WMAs, will provide habitat for bighorn sheep, mule deer, and elk. 

 

FWP will acquire this property using funds from the annual FWP Sheep License Auction and the Habitat Montana Program. The American Land Conservancy and Five Valleys Land Trust will purchase the property and transfer 220 acres to FWP this year for $773,000. A $16,000 portion of the cost will be paid by the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, the Five Valleys Chapter of the Safari Club and Anaconda Wildlife EXPO.

 

Next year FWP hopes to acquire the remaining 76 acres for $262,500, possibly with a grant from the Natural Resource Damage Program.

 

Thompson Falls Area:

FWP will acquire the 50-acre Hodges property east of Thompson Falls for approximately $450,000, with funding from Montana’s Bighorn Sheep Auction Fund, to provide winter range and lambing habitat for the migratory Thompson Falls bighorn sheep herd. The Plains High School ninth grade science class collected 40,900 pennies ($409) to support the project. FWP collaborated with Flathead Wildlife, Inc., the Montana Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, the Five Valleys Chapter of Safari Club International, and a private individual to complete the deal. The property will be managed as a WMA.