Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on whether it should purchase 772 acres of forest and wetland at the mouth of Bad Rock Canyon for a proposed wildlife management and recreation area.

The agency is seeking to purchase the property from the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. for around $7 million in public and private funds. The land sits along U.S. 2, across the Flathead River from the company's defunct aluminum plant.

It's winter range for elk, moose and white-tailed deer — as well as vital habitat for grizzly bears, bull trout and many other species — and state officials and local nonprofits want to protect it from development.

"If the project fails, the property would most likely be sold, subdivided and developed into a high-density neighborhood that would directly impact the conservation value of the site," FWP said in a news release Wednesday.

The land is appraised at $7.26 million, and CFAC gave the state until the end of the year to complete the purchase.

To meet that goal, officials have cobbled together $2.5 million from FWP's Habitat Montana Program, which uses revenue from big game hunting licenses, and a $4 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program, which is funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund that collects royalties from offshore oil and gas drilling.

The Flathead Land Trust and other local nonprofits have raised an additional $590,000, and CFAC is expected to donate any remaining difference in value, according to FWP.

Some hunting is currently allowed on the property, and CFAC permitted the Gateway to Glacier Trail nonprofit to build 3 miles of trail through the land. FWP ownership would ensure hunting, fishing and other recreational uses of the land can continue in perpetuity.

The agency has detailed the proposal in a draft environmental assessment that will remain open for public comment until 5 p.m. on Sept. 8. Comments can be emailed to FWP's Kris Tempel at ktempel@mt.gov or mailed to the agency's Kalispell office at 490 N. Meridian Road.

A virtual public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 16. It will be livestreamed via Zoom at fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/regions/region1.

After the public comment period, FWP will forward a recommendation to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. A final decision would be up to the Montana Land Board.

FWP previously sought public comment last fall, asking whether the agency should initiate the project. The agency said it received 127 comments, all in support of the effort.

Assistant editor Chad Sokol may be reached at 406-758-4439 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com.