Smith Lake waterfowl area expanded

Another 257 acres of vital bird habitat was tacked onto the Smith Lake Waterfowl Production Area last week, adding to an existing 1,800 acres of conserved land that safeguards a large wetland complex in the Smith Valley.

The addition of acreage was a partnership effort among local landowners, Flathead Land Trust, The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Wildlife Service, according to a press release from the Land Trust.

For the past six years, Flathead Land Trust has worked with landowners Larry and Maureen Baer to achieve conservation for the property that consists primarily of wetland habitat situated adjacent to the production area. The Conservation Fund then bridged a funding gap by purchasing the property in July and holding it until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could secure the funds necessary to add the land to the production area — an event that officially transpired Sept. 6.

“Partnerships are key to making great strides toward conserving wildlife and wild places,” Matt Hogan with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a prepared statement.

The wetland complex, located west of Kalispell near Kila, serves as a crucial refueling stop for tens of thousands of birds during their migrations.

The lands include the Smith Lake Waterfowl Production Area — a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System — and private properties with conservation easements held by several conservation groups. The new addition to the waterfowl production area includes 240 acres of wetlands and surrounding lands along a portion of Ashley Creek and “provides scenic views for people traveling on Highway 2 and using the Rails to Trails bike path,” the press release states.

“We are thrilled that such key bird habitat is now permanently protected and another special place in the Flathead Valley will be available for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity,” Laura Katzman of Flathead Land Trust said in a prepared statement.

Flathead Land Trust completed two other additions to the production area in the last few years. One came from a private land donation and the other involved purchasing land that had gone into foreclosure. Both properties were made up of mostly wetlands and collectively contributed 331 acres to the bird habitat.

The Smith Lake Waterfowl Production Area was purchased in 1973 and was established for nesting waterfowl. The wetlands are dominated by reed canary grass, bulrush and cattail.

Kianna Gardner may be reached at 758-4439 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com