Sens. Tester & Baucus protect invaluable wildlife habitat and rural lands!

In March, the Missoulian reported on an exciting collaboration between Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus to recover federal funds to purchase Plum Creek land holdings in northwest Montana.

To read the complete Missoulian article, click here.

The senators successfully recovered more than $8 million dollars in federal funding to buy land in western Montana, including thousands of acres owned by Plum Creek Timber Co. in the Swan and Blackfoot valleys.

As reported by the Missoulian, The monies had earlier been set aside in the fiscal year 2007 spending bill, but temporarily dried up after Congress elected not to fund some earmarked projects. The senators took it upon themselves to directly lobby agency officials for funding to purchase the lands.

The Blackfoot Community Project and Swan Valley Forest Legacy Fund each received $3 million to purchase land from Plum Creek, and the funds enable The Nature Conservancy to preserve 5,206 acres of wildlife habitat and rural lands in northern Montana.

Once the deal is completed, The Nature Conservancy will hand over ownership of the various properties to the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management as part of a long-term strategy to protect Plum Creek lands from development.

The funding used to buy Plum Creek property in the Swan Valley will also help consolidate public land ownership is an area where current land ownership is largely checkerboard. Many rural residents, conservationists and agricultural producers have lauded these land purchases that secure conservation dollars to preserve Montana’s outdoor heritage and hunting, fishing and recreation opportunities.

Both Senators Tester and Baucus deserve a hearty “thank you!” for protecting thousands of acres of lands for Montanans, rural communalities and wildlife. Please contact them and show your appreciation for their work to enhance Montana's outdoor heritage for generations to come!