County chips in for elk underpass
Conservationists and officials now need to raise less than $10,000 to get a wildlife crossing incorporated into a Montana Department of Transportation shoulder-widening project planned for Montana 206 north of Fairview Crossroad.
But the deadline to raise the money is Friday.
In effect a large culvert running under the road, the crossing also would include the construction of several miles of fencing to funnel elk and other wildlife toward the underpass.
The project is estimated to cost $165,000, according to Department of Transportation records.
Because the elk herd isn't a documented safety issue for motorists, the department wasn't able to use safety funds to pay for the crossing.
The department was able, however, to come up with $116,400 from another category of federal-aid funding, leaving a $48,600 gap to be filled by private contributions.
Jay and Sandy Whitney, the impetus behind the wildlife crossing project, own the land on both sides of Montana 206 where the shoulder widening is set to occur.
They are willing to contribute $21,000 the Department of Transportation is expected to pay them for the land used to widen and slope the shoulder. Another $12,600 has been donated from other groups.
In addition, Flathead County commissioners agreed to put $5,000 toward the project.
"We need to do everything we can to get this project completed," said Commissioner Gary Hall, who also contributed $100 from his own pocket.
County commissioners applied several months ago for a $15,000 grant to cover the gap, but were denied funding, Hall said.
While it hasn't taken responsibility for raising the money, the Department of Transportation has offered to provide cost estimates, letters of support and other information.
"We would like to see it part of the project," said Department of Transportation Director Jim Lynch. "We would like to see it succeed because of all the private sector involvement."
The shoulder-widening project is scheduled to be contracted out in March 2008.
A meeting will be held at the end of the week to determine the status of the fundraising effort, Lynch said.
Conservation groups, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and area residents believe a wildlife crossing could preserve game migration patterns.
And as nearby development further encroaches upon the herd's winter range, contact between the herd and people is expected to become more frequent.
Earlier this month, two men barely escaped serious injury when their car struck an elk on Montana 206 near Yeoman Hall Road, less than a mile from the proposed crossing. And a new subdivision is being planned only a mile south of the Whitneys' farm.
To ensure the wildlife crossing doesn't become obsolete as development continues, the Whitneys have placed or will place their entire 189-acre farm under a conservation easement.
The East Valley elk herd is most often seen grazing in fields adjacent to Montana 206. The herd migrates from the Swan Range to the Flathead River, crossing several heavily traveled roads.
Wildlife crossings on Middle Road or Columbia Falls Stage Road have not been considered.
Contributions can be sent to the Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807 and should include a notation that they are to be used for the wildlife underpass on Montana Secondary 206.
Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com