FWP looking for comment on farming lease at Chief Plenty Coups State Park

Neighbor would be able to grow crops, cut hay for next 10 years

BILLINGS – Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is accepting comments through May 19 on a proposal to lease the right to grow crops and cut hay on 100 acres of Chief Plenty Coups State Park.

The lease, which would go to a neighbor who has cut hay at the park for the past several years, would extend through 2031 and allow farming on 60 acres and cutting hay of 40 acres of the 195-acre park. The lease also would allow grazing on the farmland, typically to remove stubble after harvesting crops. It would allow for a 10-year extension in 2031.

Half of the proceeds from the harvest would go to weed control throughout the park.

Comments on an environmental assessment of the project will be considered by FWP officials and the Montana State Park Board before a final decision is made.

Comments may be emailed to robert.seykora@mt.gov or mailed to:

FWP Region 5
Chief Plenty Coups EA
2300 Lake Elmo Drive
Billings, MT 59105

The full environmental assessment is online at https://fwp.mt.gov/public-notices/news/2021/apr/0416-chief-plenty-coups-state-park-hay-lease---draft-ea