Draft Plan Released For Thompson-Fisher Land Agreement

Friday, September 15, 2000
Headlines

This article was Archived on Monday, July 01, 2002

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. have released a draft environmental assessment for the Thompson and Fisher River Valleys Conservation Easement. The public comment period extends to October 16. Public meetings, include an open house starting at 6:00 p.m. followed by a formal hearing at 7:00 p.m. They are scheduled as follows:

• Polson: September 28, Polson Library, 2 First Avenue East
• Thompson Falls: October 3, County Courthouse, 1111 Main
• Kalispell: October 4, FWP Headquarters, 490 North Meridian Road
• Libby: October 5, First National Bank, 504 Mineral Avenue

The easement covers roughly 86,000 acres in the Thompson River valley and 56,000 acres in the Fisher River valley. The agreement would ensure the continuation of forest and resource management, commercial timber harvesting, public access and recreation, unique open space, and important fish and wildlife habitat. The project would be the largest conservation agreement for wildlife and public access in Montana’s history. FWP has highlighted the importance of this conservation easement by designating it as its Centennial Project for Northwest Montana. In the plan, five alternatives are presented for public comment, including:

• Alternative 1: (preferred alternative): the proposed action of purchasing the conservation easement on the entire 142,000 acres;
• Alternative 2: (no action): do not enter into a conservation agreement of any kind;
• Alternative 3: purchase the conservation easement on either the Thompson River valley or the Fisher River valley;
• Alternative 4: Purchase the entire easement without guarantee of public access; and
• Alternative 5: Purchase the conservation easement in large tracts on portions of the Thompson or Fisher River valleys.

The cost of purchasing the conservation easement described in the preferred alternative (Alternative 1) is estimated at $25-32 million ($175-$225 per acre), subject to a final appraisal review. Available dollars for the purchase will, in part, determine the size of the final easement. People wishing to review the environmental assessment for the proposed conservation easement may contact FWP to get a copy, or review it at the Lake, Lincoln, or Flathead county libraries. The easement can also be found on the FWP Website, fwp.state.mt.us, under Notices. Comments can be mailed to FWP, 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901; or they can be emailed to gbissell@state.mt.us.