November 10, 2006 - Ovando, MT — The Blackfoot Community Project, a partnership between the Blackfoot Challenge and The Nature Conservancy, is a community-based and locally developed effort to guide the future ownership and management of key lands formerly owned by Plum Creek Timber Company in the Blackfoot Valley.
The project, involving the purchase of up to 88,000 acres of Plum Creek lands from the headwaters of the Blackfoot to the Clearwater River drainage, is entering its fourth year. The Conservancy has purchased just over 54,000 acres and re-sold nearly 25,000 acres to both public and private buyers thus far. All project lands are being re-sold according to the Disposition Plan approved by individual communities and the Blackfoot Challenge Board.
The most recent sale of 3,800 acres to the U.S. Forest Service took place in the Seeley Lake region at the end of September. It included project land in Section 19 of Township 16, Range 13 and Sections 10,14,15,22,23,24,26, and 27 of Township 16, Range 14 in the Horseshoe Hills area. The Forest Service hopes to purchase an additional 5,600 acres of project land in Horseshoe Hills in 2007 pending the allocation of Fiscal Year 2007 Land and Water Conservation Funds. All Forest Service purchases fall within the Lolo National Forest boundary.
The Nature Conservancy holds an option to purchase another 13,970 acres from Plum Creek in the South Chamberlain and Douglas Creek areas. The Conservancy’s National Board must exercise this option by November 15, 2006. TNC holds a final option for approximately 20,000 acres in North Chamberlain and they must exercise this option late in 2007.
Support from both our congressional delegation and private donors have been instrumental to the success of the project. In 2006, we received $6 Million in Land and Water Conservation Funding for US Forest Service acquisition and $1.4 Million in Forest Legacy funds for conservation easements by Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks in the Nevada Creek region. The project also recently received $2.7 Million in Habitat Conservation Plan Funds that will provide conservation easements on project and private lands in the South Lincoln region. Thanks to our many private partners, we have surpassed $7.5 million in gifts and pledges toward our $10 million private campaign goal.
Progress continues to be made on a unique component of the project, the Blackfoot Community Conservation Area [BCCA]. The BCCA is a 41,000 acre tract of land around Ovando Mountain. The tract consists of land owned by the Forest Service, Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, Fish Wildlife & Parks, private individuals, and a 5,600 acre parcel that will be owned and operated by the community through the Blackfoot Challenge. This cooperative management venture is being developed by a 15 person council comprised of private landowners and public land managers. Since August 2005, the council has been collecting data and crafting a management plan for the core 5,600 acre area. A draft plan is expected early next year. The public is welcome to attend BCCA council meetings held at the Ovando Fire Hall from 4-6pm on the first Tuesday of every month.
Project information, articles, and maps can be found on the Blackfoot Challenge website: www.blackfootchallenge.org. If you would like to receive a bi-annual newsletter detailing project purchases, sales, and other achievements, please contact Traci Bignell, Blackfoot Challenge Administrator at traci@blackfootchallenge.org [406] 793-3900. For specific questions, please contact Lands Director, Hank Goetz at hank@blackfoot.net [406] 793-5589.
