Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) proposes the purchase of one or more conservation easements, referred to as the Kootenai Valleys Conservation Easement Project, to protect approximately 28,000 acres of highly productive timberland and important fisheries and wildlife habitat in the far northwest corner of Montana near the City of Troy. The property is owned by the Stimson Lumber Company, Inc.

The draft environmental assessment is out for a 30-day public review through August 31, 2012. Copies of the draft are available at the FWP office, 490 N. Meridian Rd., Kalispell; Montana State Library, 1515 E 6th Ave., Helena; Lincoln County Libraries, 220 W 6th St., Libby, and 207 N 3rd, Troy; and the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov under Public Notices. A public meeting will be held at the Troy High School auditorium, 116 E Missoula, in Troy on Wednesday, August 22, 6:30 p.m., beginning with a 30-minute open house. FWP staff will also be presenting the project to the Lincoln County Planning Board on Tuesday, August 21, 5:30 p.m., in the Ponderosa Room, Libby City Hall, 952 Spruce Street, in Libby. The public is welcome to attend either meeting.

Please direct written comments to Nancy Ivy, FWP Region One, 490 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901 (nivy@mt.gov). For questions, contact Gael Bissell (gbissell@mt.gov) (406-751-4580) or Alan Wood (awood@mt.gov) (406-751-4595) in the Kalispell FWP office