BILLINGS – The Department of Interior has awarded the state of Montana $6 million to buy 3,600 acres of timber company land to protect trout habitat east of Missoula.
The agency says preserving the land along the West Fork of the Clearwater River will also provide a link between other roadless areas considered prime habitat for grizzly bears and Canada lynx.
A second grant, for $392,000 was awarded by Interior on Monday for a conservation easement on a cattle ranch along the Rocky Mountain Front northwest of Great Falls.
The 12,000-acre Saypo Cattle Company easement includes what federal officials say is some of the best unprotected grizzly bear habitat on the Front.