Public asked to weigh in on proposed Bad Rock Wildlife Management Area

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has released an environmental assessment on the proposed purchase of the Bad Rock Canyon Wildlife Management area just east of Columbia Falls along the Flathead River.

The assessment notes the 772 acre parcel, currently owned by the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., is prime wildlife habitat — home to elk, deer, grizzly and black bears as well as a host of different bird species, including at least one active bald eagle nest.

The Flathead River and a mile of spring creek provide valuable habitat for bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout.

The forest is large cottonwoods, larch, Douglas fir and and other conifer species.

With ever growing pressure to subdivide and develop open spaces in the Flathead Valley, there has been universal support for preserving this key piece of habitat.

“The proposed action would protect fish and wildlife habitat on the property in perpetuity. This alternative would ensure that the land would never be subdivided for residential development or other uses that would likely degrade or destroy the property’s fish and wildlife habitat and inhibit wildlife movement across the property,” the EA notes.

The assessment notes that the purpose of the easement is both about preserving open space, but also about protecting wildlife. It would also provide access via a trail being developed by the Glacier to Gateway Trail organization. The idea is to tie that trail into the overall trail network in the canyon, connecting it to Glacier National Park.

If FWP gains ownership, it would be closed in the winter months to protect wintering elk and deer herds.

“Under FWP ownership, the entire property would be closed to public entry from Dec. 1 at 1:59 p.m. until May 15 at noon each year to provide secure winter range for ungulates. This closure period would benefit all species inhabiting this property during winter and spring. The Gateway to Glacier Trail (a bike and walking path on property) would also be closed each year to general public access at the start of the general hunting season, typically the third week in October,” FWP notes.

The plan is to allow for limited hunting on the property.

In an agreement with CFAC, FWP allows for limited youth hunts currently.

“The draft management plan for the property proposes to limit hunting use to keep animals on the property and to limit any conflicts between hunters. The exact details of the hunting opportunity for the property would be determined if FWP acquires the property, allowing more time to assess its potential. Any proposed regulations would be the subject of a separate decision process, including opportunity for public input,” the EA notes.

FWP partnered with the Flathead Land Trust on this project after CFAC gave until the end of 2021 to complete the acquisition. If the project fails, the property would most likely be sold, subdivided, and developed into a high-density neighborhood that would directly impact the conservation value of the site, FWP and the Land Trust note.

The appraised value of the acquisition is $7.26 million. Funding sources include $4 million from the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program, which is funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund that collects revenues from offshore oil and gas; $2.5 million from FWP’s Habitat Montana program, which uses several big game license revenues that are earmarked for the protection of wildlife habitat, particularly "important habitat that is seriously threatened;” and $590,000 raised by the Flathead Land Trust in a local fundraising effort that collected private individuals, organizations, and foundations. CFAC would donate the remainder of the value.

FWP will take public input on the project until 5 p.m., Sept. 8. A virtual public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. to provide information on the project and answer questions from the public. The online meeting will be streamed via Zoom online at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/regions/region1.

Moving forward, the project would then need a decision notice from the FWP regional supervisor and would be considered by the FWP commission on Oct. 28. It would then go to the state Land Board in mid-November.

The hope is to close on the property by the end of the year. It would then open to the public in mid-May, due to the winter range closure.

Comments can be sent to FWP’s Kris Tempel at ktempel@mt.gov or Bad Rock Canyon WMA, Montana FWP, Attn: Kris Tempel, 490 N. Meridian, Kalispell, MT 59901.

The link to the EA is at: https://fwp.mt.gov/public-notices/news/2021/aug/0810_bad-rock-canyon-wma