Page 29 - Flathead Beacon // 12.24.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM OPINION UNCOMMON GROUND Mike Jopek
DECEMBER 24, 2014 | 29
Public Lands Bring Christmas Joy
SANTA MAY STOP IN THE Flathead Valley’s newly con- served public lands to graze his tired reindeer.
In a Christmas time tribute, White- fish Legacy Partners traveled to Helena to present the state Land Board a final $2 million conservation payment and a progress report showing $12.5 million generated for Montana schools and uni- versities.
The Beaver Lakes conservation and recreation easement that WLP has been working on for multiple years generated $7.7 million to Montana schools and uni- versities.
Included in this school money is knowledge that thousands of acres of public lands will be protected forever and remain open for public recreation. People chose permanency and protected the Beaver Lakes public lands for con- servation, recreation and education.
This conservation effort took over a decade. In the early days, conservation was but a vision in the minds of people like former Whitefish Mayor Andy Feu- ry and former state Sen. Dan Weinberg. Without the City of Whitefish, none of this conservation would be possible.
In 2003, former Gov. Brian Sch- weitzer stood with a packed room of locals proclaiming that public lands are held in trust for the people. In Sch- weitzer’s hand was the Montana Consti- tution and as governor he proved him- self a public lands champion for years to follow.
In 2005, I felt crushed by defeat as some politicians in the Legislature radi- cally opposed conservation. In the years that followed I was overjoyed with tears as my fellow members embraced the benefit to schools.
A decade later, WLP evolved into a powerhouse of community service that builds trails, holds educational events, and has conserved thousands of acres of public lands for future generations. WLP has done right by public schools; yes, it’s for the kids.
I have done my small part on this ef- fort over the decade but am most proud of the community for embracing conser- vation. It was your hard earned money,
your labor of love, and your volunteerism that achieved this impressive milestone. This was the people’s achievement.
In the past years, Kalispell’s Foys to Blacktail has likewise raised millions of dollars to preserve and expand the Herron Park area. Foys to Blacktail has and will continue to build miles of rec- reational trails and honors an old-fash- ioned concept of conservation.
Foys to Blacktail added hundreds of acres of public area, spent countless hours of volunteer time building trail, and conserved lands for the next genera- tion. These dedicated people are Flat- head heroes. Without Flathead County, none of this conservation was possible.
The U.S. Congress banned mining and drilling of nearly 400,000 acres with the North Fork Watershed Protection Act and added nearly 70,000 acres to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. Con- gress designated nearly 210,000 acres to conservation in the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act.
This Montana-based national con- servation was a monumental effort that took nearly a generation to pass, and would never have happened without Democrat and Republican collaboration.
No conservation efforts occur with- out the public. It’s people who put the public back into public lands. No con- servation proved to be easy work. It took years, even decades of dedication. Many hands were blistered building trails, bucket loads of tears were shed, and gen- erous locals paid the bills.
Conservation requires a belief from Flathead people that protecting lands for the next generation is worthy. And judging by the thousands of community volunteers and donors, the Flathead has become a champion of conservation.
There will be many hard days ahead as a handful of loudmouths still abhor protecting public land, instead favoring privatization. But as Whitefish looks to protect its public water supply, it also seeks to partner with a private landhold- er to conserve thousands of acres of the Haskill Basin area.
Thank you Flathead, you inspire me. May peace and joy kindly conserve this earth for generations to follow.
419 2nd StreetEast
406.270.8771
“CONSERVATION REQUIRES A BELIEF FROM FLATHEAD PEOPLE THAT PROTECTING LANDS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION IS WORTHY.”
Mike (Uncommon Ground) Jopek and Dave (Closing Range) Skinner often fall on op- posite sides of the fence when it comes to political and outdoor issues. Their columns alternate each week in the Flathead Beacon.
Book your holiday event today ...limited space available!
Hospitality 1 Luxury 1 Charm