Daines Bill to Conserve North Fork Passes Key Committee

Great news for the Flathead: Congressman Steve Daines' bill to conserve the North Fork passed the House Natural Resources Committee.
http://missoulian.com/news/local/u-s-house-version-of-north-fork-protection-bill-passes/article_0f83708e-8847-11e3-b4d7-001a4bcf887a.html

Vital Ground Receives $10,000 TFOL Grant

Last, but certainly not least, Vital Ground was one of the recipients of the $33,000 that Travelers for Open Land awarded this month to fund five Montana private land conservation projects: 

Vital Ground in Missoula received a $10,000 grant to help fund five conservation easements totaling 276 acres in the Swan Valley. This project will help protect and restore North America’s grizzly bear populations as well as native plant communities, water quality, and working landscapes.

Thanks to the participating businesses who collected donations from visitors to our state, making these grants possible.

TFOL Helps Fund Historic Mission Valley Conservation

Travelers for Open Land helped fund the Mission Valley's largest-ever conservation easement. Great work by Five Valleys Land Trust, David Price and the Moiese Valley Ranch, and the partners that made the project possible. (Missoulian Photo) http://missoulian.com/news/local/largest-easement-in-mission-valley-protects-wildlife-corridor-dairy-farm/article_810a31b4-8493-11e3-a4bf-0019bb2963f4.html

TFOL Grants $5,000 to Gallatin Valley Land Trust

Here's another one of the recipients of the $33,000 that Travelers for Open Land awarded this month to fund five Montana private land conservation projects: 

Gallatin Valley Land Trust in Bozeman will receive $5,000 to help fund a 194-acre conservation easement on the Madison River near Headwaters State Park within a popular outdoor recreation corridor. The parcel includes pasture, wetlands and river bottomlands in an area that is highly threatened by development.

Thanks to the participating businesses who collected donations from visitors to our state, making these grants possible.

Flathead Land Trust Receives $5,000 TFOL Grant

Flathead Land Trust in Kalispell received $5,000 from Travelers for Open Land this month to help fund a conservation easement on Smith Lake. This parcel is part of a 1,600-acre block of wetlands and hay production land that is used by tens of thousands of migratory birds. 

Travelers for Open Land awarded $33,000 this month to fund five Montana private land conservation projects. Thanks to the participating businesses who collected donations from visitors to our state, making these grants possible.

Travelers for Open Land Grants $5,000 to Five Valleys Land Trust

Here's another one of the recipients of the $33,000 that Travelers for Open Land awarded this month to fund five Montana private land conservation projects: 

Five Valleys Land Trust in Missoula received $5,000 to help fund a 121-acre conservation easement in Missoula County. The property includes soils designated as important statewide by the National Resource Conservation Service, wildlife habitat, and will help facilitate another 117-acre conservation easement in the same area with The Nature Conservancy.

Thanks to the participating businesses who collected donations from visitors to our state, making these grants possible.

Montana Land Reliance Receives TFOL Grant

Travelers for Open Land awarded $33,000 this week to fund five Montana private land conservation projects! Here are details on one of them:

Montana Land Reliance of Helena will receive $8,000 to help fund a 3,270-acre conservation easement project in Pondera County. The project conserves agricultural land and bird habitat and expands the geographic reach of Travelers for Open Land projects into a new area of Montana.

Thanks to the participating businesses who collected donations from visitors to our state, making these grants possible.

TPL and Bozeman Partnering on Story Mill

The Trust for Public Land continues to work on some exciting ideas for the Story Mill property in Bozeman.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/city/article_18ed2468-77fc-11e3-8e5c-001a4bcf887a.html

Thanks, Magpie Guest House!

A big thank-you to Jeff and Kathy Ball of Magpie Guest House in Bozeman for sending in the first Travelers for Open Land donation in 2014! Jeff and Kathy donate consistently throughout the year and we're so grateful.

http://www.magpiegh.com/

Wall Street Journal and Conservation Easements

Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Bozeman, and conservation easements were discussed in a Jan. 3 Wall Street Journal real estate article. The article explores what makes Bozeman such an attractive place to live, the Gallatin area real estate market and how conservation easements “conserve the region’s natural habitat and its agriculture. (Alex Diekmann Photo) ”http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB20001424052702303799404579282841501869738