Lake conservation project earns federal grant

A large land conservation deal on land north of Whitefish Lake will benefit from $2 million in federal funding.

Montana’s congressional delegation last week announced the grant for the proposed conservation easement that would protect more than 15,000 acres of land north of the lake. The Whitefish Lake Watershed Project has been praised as a way to protect critical fish and wildlife habitat, provide continued public access to the property and protect the city of Whitefish’s water supply.

The majority of these lands are owned by Weyerhauser surrounded by the Stillwater State Forest and is dissected by Swift Creek and Lazy Creek. The eastern edge of the property is about 1 1/2 miles from Whitefish Lake.

The funding was made available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and administered by the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

A preliminary price tag for the conservation easement has been estimated at $40 million.

Under the proposed agreement for the project, The Trust for Public Land will have an option to purchase 1,920 acres and establish a conservation easement on the remaining 13,414 acres, which Weyerhauser will continue to own and manage as a working forest. The purchased lands will eventually be transferred into public ownership or to a conservation buyer.

The agreement is still subject to final conditions including appraisal and secured funding.

The U.S. Forest Service has also ranked the watershed project among its highest national priorities for the Forest Legacy Program for fiscal year 2017 recommending a budget proposal of $7 million to the project.

The easement would prevent future development on the property. Weyerhauser would still continue to log the property under Sustainable Forest Initiative standards.

The property is considered highly-developable and has long been identified as one of the top international conservation priorities in the Crown of the Continent, according to the state’s application for federal funding.

“Not only will the project sustain local timber jobs, conserve key habitat and scenery, guarantee public access and help to protect the city’s water supply, but it will also ward off development that would make management of the surrounding public lands much more difficult,” the application notes.

The property produces about 2.4 million board-feet of timber per year and employs about 24 full-time timber industry workers, according to the state.

Whitefish Lake also provides a portion of the city of Whitefish’s municipal water. The city gets about 20 percent of its water supply from the lake and about 80 percent from Haskill Basin.

Mike Koopal, executive director for the Whitefish Lake Institute, said protecting the property north of the lake is critical.

“The ecosystem services that Whitefish Lake provides to our community like clean drinking water and lifestyle amenities are priceless,” he said. “Imagine if that wasn’t the case.”

Koopal said in the lower portion of the proposed easement there is a high exchange of surface water and ground water, that combined with Swift Creek’s location in the easement and because there’s more water upstream than what flows into Whitefish Lake it doesn’t equate to a good place for development, and things that come with it like septic systems.

“Through various research and inventory projects, I’ve walked every inch of Swift Creek and most of Lazy Creek,” he said. “In my opinion, the resource value of this area for aquatic and terrestrial species cannot be understated. When iconic native species like grizzly bears, wolves, lynx and bull trout all inhabit an area, you have complex and connected habitat worth protecting.”

Noreen Walsh, Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service praised Montana Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Rep. Ryan Zinke for their support of FWP’s application for the funding.

“This $2 million grant will help further the large scale, partnership-based conservation efforts being undertaken by the Montana Department of Natural Resources,” she said in a prepared release. “The grant will help support Montana’s incredible natural heritage for future generations and contribute to conservation of Canada lynx, bull trout, grizzly bears and other federally-listed species.”

Montana’s Congressional delegation also praised the $2 million funding from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

“It’s great news that we were able to secure additional funds to help protect Montana’s natural resources and preserve it for future generations,” Daines stated in a release. “The Whitefish Lake Watershed Project is another example of the critical role [of] LWCF in conservation and recreation in our local communities.”

“I am thrilled that Montana’s Congressional delegation was able to come together and secure these funds for the Whitefish Lake Watershed Project,” Tester added. “Folks come from around the world to see the beauty of Whitefish Lake and thanks to LWCF and the Whitefish Lake Watershed Project this land will be preserved for future generations of sportsmen and women.”

“This grant is proof of what’s possible when our delegation works together,” Zinke said. “Growing up in Whitefish, I developed a special appreciation for both our land and water and the timber industry and how the two can complement each other. I’m happy to see this project succeed and will continue to be a fighter for the Land and Water Conservation Fund in Congress.”