SWAN VALLEY - The last piece of The Nature Conservancy’s Montana Legacy Project is now conserved for nature and people in the Swan Valley. TNC donated the last quarter section of Section 31, to Swan Valley Connections, who granted a conservation easement on the property to the Montana Land Reliance. SVC Executive Director Rebecca Ramsey said the organization is grateful for the opportunity the land presents for the future growth of the organization and enhanced benefits to the community.
The 160-acres was part of more than 310,000 acres of industrial timberland that TNC purchased from Plum Creek Timber Company in 2008. That historic project is part of more than 525,000 acres of forest TNC has protected since Plum Creek Timber Company converted to a real estate investment trust.
Located directly across Highway 83 from the Swan Valley Community Hall, the property is nestled between two pieces of private land and is adjacent to US Forest Service land.
TNC started discussions with SVC parent organizations Swan Ecosystem Center (SEC) and Northwest Connections (NwC) many years ago about selling them the 160-acres. At the time the land was slated to be sold to the US Forest Service.
“We committed to the community that we would keep that piece out while we worked with these groups to try and find some other outcome,” said Chris Bryant, TNC’s Western Montana Land Protection Director.
It became clear that it would be difficult for SEC and NwC to raise the necessary funds to purchase the land because it is high priced land. A group approached TNC and wanted to purchase the property for a private housing development. However Bryant said TNC didn’t think that was what the general community wanted and it didn’t fit TNC’s vision for the land. TNC continued to hold the land.
“This piece really had a community outcome from the beginning. That was what we were hoping to see there,” said Bryant
After the merger of SEC and NwC in January 2016, TNC resumed discussions about the property with SVC. As TNC approached the end of the Montana Legacy Project, Bryant said TNC felt a community outcome was the best option for this 160-acre piece. They decided to donate it to allow SVC to focus their fundraising efforts on operation and maintenance of the land instead of purchasing the land.
“One of the main goals of our forest protection work is to assure that the land remains viable for both people and nature and that includes public use for both recreation and economic purposes,” said Bryant. “SVC’s plans for the future of this 160 acres are right in line with the mission and goals of The Nature Conservancy.”
“The Montana Land Reliance is proud to be a partner in this exciting project. The conservation easement will protect the incredible scenic open space values, working timber lands and wildlife habitat of the Swan Valley while also enabling new educational, recreational and conservation opportunities at a level unprecedented for standard private land conservation,” said Mark Schiltz, MLR Western Manager, in a press release.
Currently SVC leases the historic Beck Homestead for their college education programs and rents their main office building from the U.S. Forest Service out of the Condon Work Center. In partnership with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribe, SVC owns and manages Section 35 but there is no development easement on it.
The terms of the conservation easement require the 160 acres to be used for conservation and education purchases. Ramsey said facilities can be constructed on 40 acres of the property. This would allow SVC to further the educational and recreational use of the land while still protecting wildlife habitat and other natural values. It also offers another venue for students, the community and K-12 education.
“Now that we have property with the potential to build our own facilities, that opens up a whole new door for us,” said Ramsey, “But most importantly we will have our own property to do demonstrations, whether that is a demonstration forest, agricultural like a community garden, interpretive trail or any number of opportunities to expand those educational opportunities.”
Over the next year, SVC will be evaluating the property for its natural values, considering current operations, needs and funding opportunities as well as seeking community input before determining planned use.
“We appreciate all the hard work, time and effort that went into the Montana Legacy Project, the enhancement of the landscape for wildlife, and the addition of public lands for all to enjoy as a result,” said Ramsey. “Now, with this final piece under SVC’s ownership, we’ll be able to use it to provide educational opportunities to the next generation of public landowners and work to use the property in ways that will benefit our community in Condon and the public at large.”
While the details have not been finalized, Ramsey anticipates a summer celebration will be held on the property. For more information visit https://www.swanvalleyconnections.org/.
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