Voluntary agreement protects forest lands, fish habitat and public access

It's a done deal for $7.8 million in conservation easements on more than 6,000 acres of Plum Creek Timber Co. lands in the Swan Valley.

Forest lands rich with wildlife and fisheries habitat, along with public access, forever will be protected under a voluntary conservation agreement announced Tuesday by Plum Creek, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and The Trust for Public Land. The transaction closed Feb. 10 in Seattle, where Plum Creek is headquartered.

The deal applies to 6,083 acres of Plum Creek lands intermingled with Swan River State Forest in the northern part of the Swan Valley.

Swan Valley residents, Plum Creek and the Trust for Public Land worked closely with resource agencies, private foundations and Montana's congressional delegation to secure the money for the easements.

An additional 1,121 acres are scheduled to be included under the agreement by the end of the year, providing protection to most Plum Creek land east of Montana 83 that is intermingled with state forest lands.

"We didn't have enough money so we bought what we could and the Trust for Public Land is raising the funds for the rest," said Alan Wood of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The price tag for easements on that additional land is estimated at $1.4 million.

The main source of funding for the deal was the federal Forest Legacy Program, administered by the U.S. Department Agriculture, which contributed $5.9 million. An additional $1.9 million in nonfederal matching money was contributed by the Trust for Public Land and the Paul G. Allen Forest Protection Foundation.

The Forest Legacy Program is directed toward the protection of productive forest lands that are at risk of conversion to nonforest uses. Proposals are evaluated for their effectiveness in protecting resources associated with forested lands, including wildlife, fisheries, wetlands, scenic and cultural resources, recreation, water quality and watershed conservation.

Under the agreement, protection of conservation values will be accomplished through sustainable forest management practices, designated riparian areas and provisions for public access.

Plum Creek will continue to own the lands and will manage them in accordance with the agreement, with monitoring by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The federal funding was secured by Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, with support from the other members of Montana's congressional delegation.

"This conservation agreement will protect these lands for continued forest management, contributing to the local forest-based economy," Sen. Burns said in a prepared statement. "There is strong community support for this project, which will provide significant public benefits for habitat protection and public access."

Others chimed in with their support.

"The Swan Valley and surrounding lands are an important part of the Northern Rockies landscape, and this agreement will contribute to maintaining these lands as working forests, and for the public to enjoy," said Eric Love, the Trust for Public Lands Rocky Mountain program director.

Love gave Burns particular credit for the funding.

Lake County Commissioner Paddy Trusler commended provisions in the arrangement that ensure public access and active forest management.

"I support this effort to protect our working forests and continue the traditions of public recreational use of these lands," said Lake County Commissioner Paddy Trusler. "The conservation easement will prevent the fragmentation of the forest."

Rick Holley, Plum Creek president and chief executive officer, said "this conservation partnership ensures that this important land will forever remain a working, sustainably managed forest while allowing members of the community to continue to enjoy its environmental and recreational attributes."

Tom Parker, a longtime Swan Valley outfitter, praised the hunting access that will be maintained in the valley.

"I have trapped, hunted and guided in this valley for many years, and I appreciate the ongoing support of Senator Burns in this effort," he said.

"What happens with these lands affects the entire Swan Valley community," said Anne Dahl of the Swan Ecosystem Center. "It's essential we protect the forest resources that are the foundation of our local economy and ecology."

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com