Whitefish Legacy Partners expects to make major steps next year in its efforts to secure a public recreation use easement around Smith Lake.

The nonprofit is submitting an application to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation with the plan of securing a public recreation use easement for the conservation of lands surrounding Smith Lake, a trail easement for existing and future Whitefish Trail trails between Smith Lake and Swift creek, and a trail easement for proposed trails to connect the Swift Creek and North Beaver trailheads. The application begins further work that WLP expects will allow it to seek final approval of the easement from the state Land Board in 2021.

Whitefish City Council last month approved submitting the application to DNRC. The city holds the recreation and conservation easements associated with the Whitefish Trail, but WLP maintains them.

Heidi Van Everen, executive director of WLP, says she expects Smith Lake to be a family-friendly recreation destination and provide important connectivity for the Whitefish Trail.

“We are excited to take the next step in securing permanent conservation at Smith Lake,” she said. “Protecting these lands for the benefit of future generations takes hard work and ingenuity, and we are fortunate to have such willing partners and broad community support.”

The proposed roughly 450-acre Smith Lake project would provide permanent protection from development, secure public access and allow for forest management around Smith Lake.

The project covers part of Legacy Partners larger Close the Loop project, which aims to complete the final pieces of the eventual 55-mile loop trail and protection of lands surrounding Whitefish.

Mike Jopek, board chair for WLP, says Smith Lake is a critical link in the Whitefish Trail system.

“The public recreation use easement will protect highly developable lands and provide a wonderful community asset in perpetuity at the head of Whitefish Lake,” he said. “This project will sustain local timber jobs, conserve key habitat and scenery, defend wildlife prone areas and guarantee public access.”

The easement, expected to cost about $3.5 million, is predicted to generate about $140,000 per year in perpetuity for Montana schools and universities.

DNRC in 2019 released its decision approving the environmental assessment for the Smith Lake Project.

The latest application begins further work that includes land valuations, river analysis, wetland delineation, alternate route considerations, private land negotiations, trail design, project outreach and fundraising, according to WLP.

“We’re a long way from the finish line, but this application will help us begin that work,” she said.

Van Everan says construction could begin in 2021 and would likely finish in 2025, but that will be dependent on availability of funding and grants.