Public input sought on proposed Chouteau County conservation easement

GREAT FALLS – Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public input on a scoping document that will lead to a proposed conservation easement on 23,600 acres in north-central Chouteau County near Loma.

FWP is inviting the public to identify issues and concerns on the property known as the Chip Creek Conservation Easement.

The property owned by Steen Andreasen consists of mostly grassland and shrub-grasslands. Most notably, it provides access to 10,660 acres of DNRC and BLM within and bordering the property and approximately 7 miles of the Marias River. The property is in deer/elk hunting district 400 and antelope hunting district 404.

The primary objectives of the proposed conservation easement are to provide perpetual year-round public access to the property and 10,660 acres of public land, maintain the conservation values of the property, and keep the land in private ownership while maintaining agriculture as the primary land use.

The scoping document can be seen on the FWP website at: https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices    Printed copies are available during normal business hours at the FWP Region 4 office at 4600 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls, MT 59405.

The comment period is October 15- November 14. Comments received will help FWP determine public interest, identify issues that would require further analysis and may provide insight for refining the proposal or for additional alternatives.

Submit written comments: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, c/o Chip Creek Conservation Easement Proposal, 514 South Front St., Ste C, Conrad, MT  59425. Comments may also be emailed to rrauscher@mt.gov