Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is proposing to acquire 7,540 acres of important wildlife habitat along the Marias River. FWP Region 4 supervisor Gary Bertellotti made the decision July 16 after reviewing an environmental assessment on the property, addressing local residents’ concerns, and considering significant public support. A local landowner bequeathed the property, known as the Lincoln property, to the Helena Catholic Diocese. Any purchase of the Lincoln property would have to be approved by the FWP Commission and the State Land Board. The Lincoln property straddles 14 miles of the Marias River about 8 miles southwest of Shelby and 70 miles northwest of Great Falls. It is currently operated as a private ranch, consisting of 7,540 deeded acres, 492 acres of leased State School Trust (SST) lands managed by Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), and 833 U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) acres. Important wildlife habitats that exist on these lands include riparian river bottom, cottonwood gallery forest, sagebrush grassland, and river breaks. The property would be purchased through a combination of funding sources, potentially including FWP’s Habitat Montana program and the Governor’s Access Montana Initiative approved by the 2007 Legislature. FWP, by virtue of the right of first refusal as granted in the will of Charlie Lincoln upon sale of the Ranch, will use that right to acquire the property through fee-title purchase of the deeded acres. The leases of BLM and DNRC acres within the boundary of the property that are now held by the current landowner will be transferred to FWP. Bertellotti’s decision is subject to appeal, which must be submitted to the FWP director in writing and postmarked within 30 days of July 16. For more information contact FWP in Great Falls at (406) 454-5840.
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