Positive Public Land News

[BigHornRam]

Surprised this good news hasn't been posted yet.

http://missoulian.com/news/local/la...cle_49d4d23b-c8a4-50e1-9c51-03b40e3cf22e.html

Work is under way for the BLM to possibly purchase up to 40,000 more adjacent acres from TNC.

 

[Big Fin]

That is good news, BHR. Thanks for posting it.

 

[406LIFE]

Always happy to hear about more land being put into public trust. I stopped hunting/fishing this area because of the number of griz encounters. Elk seem to be on the rise, which is good of course. And if you are a flyguy and not fished the Blackfoot, then you need to add it to your list.

 

[BigHornRam]

BLM needs favorable comments from public to move additional land purchases forward in Belmont Creek area.

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/missoula-blm-invites-public-be-part-planning-process-major-project

 

[JoseCuervo]

Surprised this good news hasn't been posted yet.

http://missoulian.com/news/local/la...cle_49d4d23b-c8a4-50e1-9c51-03b40e3cf22e.html

Work is under way for the BLM to possibly purchase up to 40,000 more adjacent acres from TNC.

Hey BHR,

Can you explain the role of The Nature Conservancy and why they are involved in these transactions?


Thanks.

 

[406LIFE]

BLM needs favorable comments from public to move additional land purchases forward in Belmont Creek area.

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/missoula-blm-invites-public-be-part-planning-process-major-project

I'll be there.

 

[BigHornRam]

Hey BHR,

Can you explain the role of The Nature Conservancy and why they are involved in these transactions?


Thanks.

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...na/stories/clearwater-blackfoot-project-1.xml

 

[Big Fin]

BLM needs favorable comments from public to move additional land purchases forward in Belmont Creek area.

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/missoula-blm-invites-public-be-part-planning-process-major-project

Thanks for the link. It took just over 70 seconds for me to voice my support.

 

[Southern Elk]

Great news. Thanks for posting.

 

[JoseCuervo]

BHR,

I would prefer to have you explain the role that The Nature Conservancy takes in these transactions.

You are the one that is the expert on these, you brought this feel-good story to us, you are the site's resident expert on all the good things Plum Creek Timber does.

Please get the rest of us up to speed.

Thanks.

 

[Nameless Range]

BLM needs favorable comments from public to move additional land purchases forward in Belmont Creek area.

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/missoula-blm-invites-public-be-part-planning-process-major-project

Done. I spent a lot of time up Belmont Creek when I was a student at UM. Absolutely love that country.

 

[BigHornRam]

My only concern with BLM picking up property in this area is any potential for domestic sheep grazing. There is a struggling wild sheep herd in the area. I will include this in my comments to the BLM.

 

[BigHornRam]

BHR,

I would prefer to have you explain the role that The Nature Conservancy takes in these transactions.

You are the one that is the expert on these, you brought this feel-good story to us, you are the site's resident expert on all the good things Plum Creek Timber does.

Please get the rest of us up to speed.

Thanks.

It's complicated. They bought around 117,000 acres of Plum Creek Land on short notice 2 years ago, with little idea what to do with it. They are now trying to do what's best for them, the land, and the communities around this land. Good public meeting at Lubrecht last Monday night. I will post a link to meeting minutes.

 

[BigHornRam]

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...rwater-blackfoot-montana-resource-archive.xml

Recent meeting minutes should be posted here soon, along with meetings from the past. This link might help you out Jose.

 

[BigHornRam]

Looks like positive news doesn't get near the attention that gloom and doom does around here. Here's a map to see what is in the works.

 

[Big Fin]

Looks like positive news doesn't get near the attention that gloom and doom does around here. Here's a map to see what is in the works.

View attachment 67452

Thanks for keeping this out in front, BHR. We need more of the positive stuff when all the Congressional/Legislative mess is on our minds.

 

[RobG]

Why would this go to BLM and not the Forest Service?

 

[BigHornRam]

Why would this go to BLM and not the Forest Service?

1: It links up with existing BLM properties

2: People that work at the local BLM are engaged

3: Local people involved with the process prefer the BLM over the USFS.

Right now it's only a early stage proposal. Lot's of things need to happen to make it a reality.

 

[BuzzH]

Why would this go to BLM and not the Forest Service?

RobG,

I think BHR is right, and for the record, I'm pretty familiar with that area.

I think it does make sense for the BLM to control some of that area. The Southeast portion in particular. That area has a lot of low elevation and south facing slopes off Game Ridge and borders Ninemile prairie. Lots of grazing administration, and the trees that are left on Game Ridge will not be harvested for a long time on those south slopes.

The Gold Creek country, that's a different story there. Not sure why, other than the reasons given by BHR, that would be of much interest to the BLM. By Montana standards, that country is a tree factory, which, IMO is better administered by the FS.

If this happens, it will be interesting to see what the BLM does with the existing travel plan, in particular Gold Creek, Burnt Fork, Angel Creek, Sunflower Mtn, Game Ridge, Black Mountain, Belmont Creek, etc. etc.

There aren't many acres of that country that I haven't set foot on.

 

[BigHornRam]

The FS earmarked the sections they are interested in buying as shown on the map. BLM decided to go big on what was left.