Easement purchase proposed in key grizzly habitat

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on a proposal to purchase a conservation easement that would protect 50 acres of fish and wildlife habitat along the Kootenai River northwest of Troy.

The property is owned by Vital Ground Foundation, a land trust that conserves and connects habitat for grizzly bears and other wildlife. According to a press release, the foundation has been working over the last several years to purchase this property and protect it from residential development.

The state agency conserved a large portion of the linkage in 2012 with a 28-000-acre conservation easement in Kootenai Valley. The project is part of an area identified by biologists as the best linkage corridor for grizzly bears between the Purcell and Cabinet Mountains in the Cabinet-Yaak recovery area.

This project would continue FWP’s collaborative effort by helping the foundation “conserve this property and its important riparian and upland habitat,” the press release states. Vital Ground would continue to own and manage the land while the state would hold a conservation easement that would preclude future residential or commercial development and ensure the property is managed to benefit fish and wildlife habitat in perpetuity.

Public access to the property would be allowed for fishing and bird watching opportunities. The conservation easement would, however, not require Vital Ground to provide hunting access on the property due to the parcel’s smaller size and proximity to U.S. 2 and neighboring residences.

After a draft environmental assessment is complete and review of the public comments are received, the FWP Region 1 Supervisor will issue a decision notice that makes a recommendation to the Fish and Wildlife Commission on a course of action.

A copy of the draft environmental assessment is available at several locations including the FWP Region 1 office at 490 North Meridian Road in Kalispell. It can also be viewed online at fwp.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/

Comments on the draft must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Feb. 17.