Star Meadows conservation easement preserves land, family legacy

A new conservation easement in the Star Meadows area was recently established through the Flathead Land Trust. 

The land protection agreement secures the future of a 52-acre forested property, the culmination of a combined family conservation effort that has assembled the parcels since the mid-1970s.  

The land's history stretches back to the 1920s, when it was part of a remote 160-acre homestead, settled along a clean, clear tributary to Logan Creek. Meandering through the land for a third of a mile, this stretch of creek and vital part of the Tally Lake watershed are now safeguarded by the conservation easement.  

“We really appreciate the foresight of landowners we work with to secure the future of their land and protect our abundant wildlife, exceptional water quality, and special places in northwest Montana,” said Laura Katzman, land protection specialist with Flathead Land Trust. 

The newly protected property's diverse landscape—a mixture of upland forest and thick riparian forest — provides a variety of habitats for many wildlife species. Black bear, elk, white-tailed deer, beaver, coyotes, and occasionally grizzly bear and moose, find refuge on the property. It is also home to many bird species, including pileated woodpeckers, western tanagers and chestnut-backed chickadees.  

Lush riparian vegetation on the easement is essential for maintaining the ecological integrity and water quality of a tributary to Logan Creek, which ultimately flows into Tally Lake.  

In spring and summer, the northern forested hillside comes alive with plentiful pink orchids known as fairy slippers and abundant blooming bear grass beneath a canopy of subalpine fir, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce. The southern hillside explodes with brilliant yellow as its western larch trees change color each fall.  

Protection of this remote forested property adds to an interconnected network of open space and quality habitat on a landscape scale. 

Adjacent to Flathead National Forest land on three sides, this conservation effort safeguards wildlife habitat and helps protect the natural integrity of the region for future generations.  

For more information visit flatheadlandtrust.org 

    A tributary of logan Creek runs through the 52-acre conservation easement near Star Meadows. (Photo provided)