Page 13 - Flathead Beacon // 3.12.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS MARCH 12, 2014 | 13

Deal Protecting Critical North

Shore Land Completed

PROTECT
Private landowner sells

189 acres to state for

wetland, water quality

the
preservation

By DILLON TABISH of the Beacon

Every March, millions of migratory
present
birds travel the Paciic Flyway, an invis-
ible highway in the sky that stretches
along the western edge of North Amer-
ica. Along their lengthy trip, many of
those traveling waterfowl stop at one of

the most diverse concentrations of wet-
lands in the Rocky Mountains, the Flat-
head River Watershed.
Last week more than 5,000 Cana-
dian geese and mallard ducks roosted
in the rich sloughs near the north shore
of Flathead Lake. As the spring thaw be-

gins, countless more are on their way,
eager to stop and enjoy the prime habitat
that is fostered by the mighty main stem
of the river and the swelling lakefront.
Thanks to an agreement between
agencies and a private landowner, this
popular gathering ground will stay in- A conservation project protecting 189 acres along the north shore of Flathead Lake was recently com-
tact forever.
pleted. The project was the result of a collaborative efort by the landowner, Darrell Worm, Flathead Land
Trust, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Bonneville Power Administration.
A conservation project protecting COURTESY PHOTO
189 acres along the north shore of Flat-
head Lake was oicially completed Feb. tion Program, which provides money for other ish that rely on the shallow waters
28. Landowner Darrell Worm agreed conservation projects to mitigate the at the north end of the lake, according to
to sell his property for a bargain to the loss of ish habitat due to the construc- state biologists.
state of Montana, which will oversee it tion of Hungry Horse Dam.
The parcel will also provide public
as a wildlife management area open to “Flathead Land Trust deserves a opportunities for wildlife viewing and
public recreation.
great deal of the credit for bringing this
hunting and will be managed similarly
The newly protected land, adjacent project to fruition,” said Gael Bissell of to other public lands on the north shore.
to the 161-acre state park and 1,887- FWP.
The conservation project is the lat-
acre federal management area, adds to Flathead Land Trust is a nonprof- est in a collaborative efort to conserve
a stronghold of protected habitat on the it organization established in 1985 by critical lands along the north shore of
north shore that biologists consider vi- community members to maintain the Flathead Lake and River, known as the
tal for ish, wildlife and waterfowl spe- natural beauty, clean water and special Flathead River to Lake Initiative.
cies as well as water quality in the entire places in the Flathead Valley.
Over the past 10 years, the Flathead

Flathead watershed. The land lies atop a “We typically work with interested River to Lake Initiative partners, includ-
large channel of groundwater from the private landowners to implement con- ing many private landowners dedicated
river system into the lake, entailing a servation easements to protect the im- to stewardship, have conserved nearly
key section of loodplain.
portant conservation values of their 5,000 acres of critical lands along the
The new conservation project was land, and keep the land in private own- lower Flathead River and north shore of
the result of a collaborative efort in- ership managed by the landowner,” said Flathead Lake, adding to a network to-
volving Worm, Flathead Land Trust, Laura Katzman of Flathead Land Trust. taling nearly 11,000 acres of protected
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and “However, in this case, the landowner private and public lands.

Bonneville Power Administration.
wanted to sell his property. We were hap- “These critical lands include those
“My hope for this unique proper- py to help with this great conservation important to maintain our excellent wa-
ty has been that it could be preserved project and commend Darrell Worm for ter quality, healthy river function, abun-
for the people of Montana to enjoy and his commitment and patience toward a dant ish and wildlife, and important ag-
that its historic character could be pro- conservation outcome for his property.”
ricultural soils,” said Constanza von der
tected,” said Worm. “I am thrilled that Worm’s property includes agricul- Pahlen of the Flathead Lakers, a partner
through the eforts of the Flathead Land tural lands that frequently lood in the in the Flathead River to Lake Initiative.

Trust and MFWP this hope can be real- spring during snowmelt and are used The new FWP acquisition will be
ized.”
by tens of thousands of migratory birds available for public recreation with a
Worm agreed to sell his property to as an important refueling stop on their seasonal closure from March 1 to July 15
the state for $1.6 million, below the ap- long journey from wintering grounds for migrating and nesting birds. Future
praised market value of $1.73 million. in Mexico to their breeding grounds plans include maintaining agricultural
Proceeds from the sale will fund the in Canada. The property also overlays production along with gradual wetland
restoration of an historic barn on site an area with shallow groundwater and and riparian restoration. The partners
built by the original homesteaders of the maintaining that land as open space will plan to have a celebration of the conser-

www.ThreeRiversBankMontana.com
property. FWP purchased the land using help protect water quality in Flathead vation project later this year.
funding from the BPA Fisheries Mitiga-
Lake, which will beneit bull trout and
[email protected]