Travelers for Open Land
enjoyed its best year ever in 2012 and last week awarded $88,000 to fund six
Montana private land conservation projects. Since it was launched in
2009, Travelers for Open Land has awarded $148,365 to help fund 20
land conservation projects throughout Montana.
“We had a very
impressive group of grant applications this year, and were pleased to fully fund
all six applications,” said Mike Scholz, founder of Travelers for Open Land,
owner of Buck’s T-4 Lodge and a hospitality industry leader. “The projects we
helped fund showcase excellent examples of Montana land conservation efforts and
included wetlands protection, enhanced recreational access opportunities,
conservation of historic and traditional working ranches, lakeshore protection
at Flathead Lake, wildlife habitat protection and more.”
Here is a brief summary
of the six projects approved for funding by the Travelers for Open Land Advisory
Committee:
The Nature Conservancy
of Helena received $20,000 to help fund a 580-acre conservation easement project
in the Big Hole Valley. The project conserves a working ranch that includes a
stream corridor containing arctic grayling.
Prickly Pear Land Trust
received $18,365 to help fund a conservation easement and additional
recreational access as part of the 266-acre Aspen Trails proposal in the North
Helena Valley. The project enjoys significant local support, protects a wetland
area and has several partners cooperating on the project.
Five Valleys Land Trust
in Missoula will receive $15,000 to help fund a 2,278-acre conservation easement
in the Mission Valley on the Flathead Indian Reservation. The project conserves
an important wildlife corridor, valuable soils and a traditional working
ranch.
PHOTO BY CATHERINE WALTERS
Gallatin Valley Land
Trust in Bozeman will receive $15,000 to help fund a hiking trail and
conservation easement project near Big Sky. The project features a large number
of private and public partners and would expand outdoor recreational
opportunities in Big Sky.
The Bitter Root Land
Trust in Hamilton will receive $10,000 to help fund a conservation easement on a
historic 1,080-acre ranch in the Bitterroot Valley. The project protects
existing recreational access, enjoys local support and has a connection to noted
Montana artist Charlie Russell.
Flathead Land Trust in
Kalispell will receive a $10,000 grant to help fund a 190-acre conservation
easement on the North Shore of Flathead Lake. The project features protection of
wetlands and waterfowl habitat and is part of the Flathead’s River to Lake
Initiative.
“Travelers for Open Land
has come a long way since we launched the program in 2009,” said Stuart Doggett
of the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association. “The Montana tourism
industry had a very good year in 2012 and one of the key goals of the TFOL
program is to recognize the value of open lands to the Montana tourism industry and
also recognize the value of the tourism industry to Montana’s
economy.”
“Open land is an
economic asset to Montana, and Travelers for Open Land is starting to make some
meaningful contributions to our landscape, our economy and quality of life,”
said Glenn Marx of the Montana Association of Land Trusts.
When visitors stay or
shop at a business property participating in Travelers for Open Land, they’re
asked to make a small donation in support of the program. Over 30 business
properties collected more than $100,000 and contributed those as donations in
2012. These funds came from hotels, dude ranches, bed and breakfasts, outfitters
with lodging, fly fishing shops, rafting companies and other tourism-related
properties and businesses as well as a generous donation from the Rapier Family
Foundation of Big Sky. The funds are awarded as grants to land trusts through a
competitive grant program.
Nice article in the Flathead Beacon about a Whitefish community project to manage area lands for outdoor recreation and conservation, plus generate revenue from school trust lands. Flathead Land Trust is one of the project partners. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/
Bozeman residents may have an opportunity to vote on a bond initiative to fund local trails, parks, open space and recreational facilities. http://
Congratulations to Prickly Pear Land Trust of Helena, America's newest accredited land trust. Great work, PPLT. Prickly Pear Land Trust recently received a Travelers for Open Land grant. http://helenair.com/news/
There are lots of reasons to value open land. Here's one key reason. http://
Great project near Troy that keeps working lands working, conserves wildlife habitat and maintains recreational access. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/
Interesting story in the Bozeman Chronicle about the difficulty of passing the family farm or ranch to the next generation. Conservation easements are mentioned as one tool to ease that transfer. http://
Interesting poll produced by Colorado College about Montana and land conservation. The message in the polls is pretty clear: Jobs are very important, but so is conservation. http://
Congratulations to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for its "RMEF Team Elk" show being named Fan Favorite Best New Series on the Outdoor Channel.http://www.rmef.org/
Gallatin Valley Land Trust is helping lead the "Main Street to the mountains" trail efforts in Gallatin County through improvements to the Triple Tree Trail. http://
An amazing story of family and place published in the Ravalli Republic. The Severson family and their Bitterroot Valley ranch tell an impressive and remarkable tale. Travelers for Open Land is proud of have helped fund this project. http://ravallirepublic.com/
Helena Independent Record article lauds the "team effort" on a project to protect open land and riparian areas, allow recreational access and create educational opportunities. Prickly Pear Land Trust will hold the conservation easement.
Missoulian article captures the benefits of the Ward Ranch conservation easement near Missoula. Lots of wildlife habitat and a key wildlife corridor between the Mission Mountains and Rattlesnake Wilderness areas. http://missoulian.com/news/
Congratulations to Doug and Jeanne Hall and Five Valleys Land Trust for finalizing a conservation easement that protects hunting access and open land in the Blackfoot Valley. http://missoulian.com/news/
The Missoula County Open Lands program approved the Boyer conservation easement, which keeps land open for wildlife and agriculturally productive. Congratulations to Joe Boyer, Five Valleys Land Trust and Missoula County.http://missoulian.com/news/
Prickly Pear Land Trust in Helena has secured a grant to expand and improve the Mount Ascension trail system, which is great news for area hikers and the community. http://helenair.com/news/
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