Environmental assessment available for Lost Trail Conservation easement

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last week released a formal environmental assessment of a proposed conservation easement near the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge. If created, the Conservation Area would authorize the Service to work with willing sellers to acquire conservation easements on up to 100,000 acres within the 120,000 acre Conservation Area boundary.

The conservation easements would secure public access, prevent residential development, and allow for sustainable commercial timber harvests. The easements would be similar to other existing easements in the area and similar to the 7,274acre easement within the project area proposed for acquisition by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

No taxpayer dollars would be used to purchase the easements. Instead, the Service would make purchases using federal dollars from the now permanently authorized Land and Water Conservation Fund, which uses federal offshore oil and gas leases to support the conservation of natural resources across the U.S. Within the project area, over 28,000 acres are held by public agencies or are protected with existing conservation easements. Of the remaining unprotected private land, nearly 97 percent is owned by the private commercial

timber company, Southern Pine Plantations Montana. SPP Montana currently allows for public hunting and recreation on the project area lands, but the company may consider subdividing and selling these lands for development.

There’s about 3,000 acres within the conservation boundary that aren’t owned by SPP.

The area is home to a wide variety of species iconic to the western U.S., including elk, mule and whitetail deer, black bears and grizzly bears, to name a few. It is hallowed hunting grounds for many locals.

The full EA is available at: https://www.fws. gov/mountain-prairie/ refuges/ltrca.php The public comment period will last for 30 days, closing on Oct. 16, 2020. To submit comments, email LTRCA_ comments@fws.gov or write to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lost Trail Comments, 922 Bootlegger Trail, Great Falls, Montana 59404.