Congressional riders aid conservation easements in Montana

December 18, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

To the surprise of some, Congress passed a few laws to help keep Montana’s land whole and its families on the land.

Since Congress allowed the Land and Water Conservation Act to sunset in September, some have wondered how to save what’s left of rural Montana. But on Friday, the U.S. Senate joined the House of Representatives both in extending the LWCF at least short-term and in allowing tax incentives for conservation easements to become permanent.

FWP commission appeals for LWCF reauthorization

November 13, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks commission has thrown its support behind the reauthorization of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

On Thursday, commissioners unanimously approved a letter urging Montana’s congressional delegation to revive the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Whitefish Range project hinges on FWP approval

November 04, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to finalize two conservation easements that would preserve open land near Whitefish and complete a legacy purchase aided by the now-dead Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Last week, FWP published a draft environmental study that is critical for securing easements on more than 10,000 acres in the southern Whitefish Mountains.

Tester uses town-hall call-in to explain conservation strategy

October 21, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

Sen. Jon Tester tried to reach out to Montanans regarding Congressional issues affecting public lands and conservation in Montana. But some callers preferred to make their own points or raise questions on unrelated issues.

Tester started off the Wednesday evening call going over the main issues he wanted to address: preserving public land, reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, improving forest management by removing wildfire suppression costs from the Forest Service budget and the Congressional brinksmanship related to raising the federal debt ceiling.

No Legislative consensus on Land and Water Conservation Fund

September 04, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

The debate that occurred during a Legislative hearing is probably a microcosm of the Congressional struggle taking place over the re-authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

On Thursday, the members of the Water Policy Interim Committee argued about whether they should send a letter supporting Sen. Richard Burr’s (R-N.C,) bill to permanently reauthorize the 50-year-old Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Tester, ranchers and sportsmen rally for Land and Water Conservation Fund

August 24, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

The 50-year-old Land and Water Conservation Fund will sunset in September unless Congress renews it. If Congress supports it, Montanans will be able to continue creating more parks, preserving more hunting spots and saving working ranches and timber sources. But with just about a month to go until it expires, the fund needs a big show of support.

Missoula residents don’t need to look far to find areas where LWCF money has already been put to work.

LWCF grant helps preserve habitat near Columbia Falls

August 19, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

A $2 million federal grant will help preserve logging and habitat in northwestern Montana, but it may be one of the last to do so if Congress doesn’t renew the Land and Water Conservation Fund by Sept. 30.

Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded $2 million to the Trust for Public Land to help with the purchase of a conservation easement of almost 7,200 acres in the Trumbull Creek watershed near Columbia Falls.