Proposed Land Exchange Would Put Alberton Gorge Into State Ownership

Print

A series of creative land exchanges could soon put Alberton Gorge near Missoula, with its popular whitewater stretches and fishing access on the Clark Fork River, into state ownership, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Pat Graham. "This unique, collaborative effort aims to preserve a 306-acre tract, including about seven miles of whitewater along the Clark Fork River, meeting a long-time goal of agencies, sportsmen, anglers, and the more than 30,000 whitewater enthusiasts and outdoor recreationists who use the area each summer," Graham said. The option to purchase the Alberton Gorge from Montana Power Company, is held by River Network, a private nonprofit river conservation organization with an office in Helena. The option expires in October. "In exercising this option, we want to ensure that the valuable fisheries habitat, fishing access and public recreational resources of Alberton Gorge are preserved and accessible to the public," said Hugh Zackheim, of River Network. "We appreciate Montana Power’s willingness to work with all the parties involved to forge an agreement of this kind." The agreement is structured so that River Network can act on its option to purchase the $1.2 million Alberton Gorge property and then transfer ownership to FWP. To finance the agreement, River Network would assume ownership of an unused FWP urban property in the Billings area and receive from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) approximately 300 acres in Mineral County in west central Montana. Sale of these tracts would provide River Network with the funding necessary to purchase the Alberton Gorge and help maintain a balance between the amount of private and public land in Mineral County. FWP would transfer to the USFS certain lands and approximately $77,000 to compensate USFS for the land transferred to River Network. The lands FWP will transfer to USFS include: Frank Lake Fishing Access Site near Eureka; Natural Bridge State Park near Big Timber; and Park Lake Fishing Access Site and Tizer Lake Fishing Access Site both south of Helena. These fishing access sites are adjacent to national forest land and will continue to be available for public use. In a related move, the USFS plans to transfer 34 acres of land adjacent to FWP’s Tarkio Fishing Access Site to help consolidate FWP’s holdings. "This land exchange is a winning situation for the public because it means both Alberton Gorge and the properties FWP plans to exchange for the Gorge will remain in public ownership for the public’s use," said Graham. FWP and USFS will prepare a joint Environmental Assessment for the proposed project expected to be available by this summer. The public will have opportunities to comment in public meetings hosted jointly by FWP/USFS in the areas of the state affected.