Revive and Thrive celebrates recreational growth

SEELEY LAKE – Approximately 70 people volunteered to help create new trails on the Hill 16 Community Trail System during The Nature Conservancy's fifth annual Revive and Thrive event on Sunday, July 14.

"I couldn't be happier with the turnout today, I believe we have more volunteers than usual," said Chris Bryant, the Western Montana Land Protection Director for TNC. "The goal is obviously to build trails, but also to bring people together and build relationships."

Volunteers split themselves between four projects, one was tasked with forest thinning, two groups worked on trail maintenance including breaking ground on the Lake View Trail. The fourth group removed spotted knapweed along the Lake View Trial.

"It's such a great opportunity to preserve and protect this area," said Suzy Rizza. Rizza and her husband Tim O'Leary own the KettleHouse Brewing Company in Missoula. They both volunteered at the Revive and Thrive event.

Rizza explained that she and her husband have been more involved with restoration and conservation efforts in the Blackfoot Valley since building KettleHouse's new location in Bonner.

Volunteers on the Lake View Trail were tasked to break ground on approximately a quarter mile of the trail. According to Steve Kloetzel, western Montana land steward for TNC, that will amount to about 10 percent of the entire trail. The rest of the trail will be completed by an excavator due to steep inclines.

According to Kloetzel the trail will offer scenic views of Placid Lake and will connect with trails near Tuppers Lake.

The Hill 16 Recreation Area is located between Seeley Lake and Placid Lake, near Owl Creek Road and Placid Lake State Park. The area was deemed a priority project to the Seeley Lake Trails Plan and was the result of locally led public outreach and discussion. Trail development in the Hill 16 area is a joint effort between TNC and Seeley Lake ROCKS.

Placid Lake State Park has approximately 65,000 visitors a year and is one of Montana's most popular state parks. The Montana In Focus Commission survey found that 90 percent of Montana State Park visitors use recreational trails.

Ryan Sokoloski, manager of Placid Lake State Park, noted visitors' requests for recreational trails near the park site. He explained that logging roads were one of the only options for walking or biking near the state park.

Sokoloski hopes that these additional trails will bring more visitors to the area and will in turn support the local economy with increased tourism.

"[The economic benefit] may not be obvious all at once, it will probably be more like a trickle throughout the year," said Sokoloski. "Visitors who stop here will likely stop at our gas stations and restaurants, maybe they will buy souvenirs."

Sokoloski, who also manages Salmon Lake and Beavertail Hill State Parks, also noted that the trail system at Hill 16 can be used in the winter.