Land Board OKs Haskill deal

The state Land Board has approved a conservation easement on Haskill Basin.

In a unanimous vote, the board Dec. 21 approved the project. The easement will maintain public access to 3,020 acres north of Whitefish and prohibit residential development, while allowing property owner F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. to manage the timberland.

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the easement earlier this month. The Whitefish City Council still must approve the deal, which it will consider on Jan. 19.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, along with the city of Whitefish, will hold the conservation easement.

Haskill Basin is part of the South Whitefish Range Conservation Project, which also includes 7,150 acres of land along Trumbull Creek just northwest of Columbia Falls. The Land Board and commission will consider the Trumbull Creek easement separately.

The Land Board is made up of Gov. Steve Bullock, Attorney General Tim Fox, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch, Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau and Monica Lindeen, the commissioner of securities and insurance.