Land trust receives grant

 The Flathead Land Trust was one of seven nonprofit land trust organizations in Montana recently awarded a grant by Travelers for Open Land.

The Flathead Land Trust received $6,000 to help place a conservation easement on lands in Flathead County that are key to wetland protection and waterfowl habitat.

The Wade conservation easement project will conserve 310 acres — 192 acres through a land purchase and 118 acres through a conservation easement — on lands near the Smith Lake Waterfowl Production Area.

The money will be used on an easement that will complement existing open land and waterfowl habitat, and also protect water quality, riparian habitat and nesting and foraging habitat for waterfowl.

Created in 2009, Travelers for Open Land is a partnership among the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association, Montana Association of Land Trusts, the Montana Community Foundation, other tourist-related businesses and the traveling public.

In the past three years the program has awarded $60,000 to 14 different private land conservation projects in Montana.