The Trust for Public Land is involved in a significant landscape-scale conservation project in the Swan River Valley of northwestern Montana. The valley, which lies between the Bob Marshall/Great Bear/Scapegoat Wilderness complex and the Mission Mountain/Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness Areas, is a unique forest ecosystem which is home to a variety of wildlife, plantlife and fisheries, including the grizzly bear, water howellia, and bull trout, all federally protected species.  It is very productive forestland which supports a variety of forest-based activities, including timber management, value-added forest product industries, and outdoor recreation.  The area is experiencing a demand for rural residential/recreational home development and conversion of land to non-forest uses, placing the Valley’s natural resources and forest-based economies at risk. The conversion of these lands to home and cabin development will introduce conflicts with wildlife, natural processes, public access, and forest management activities, as well as place a burden on local government to provide services to isolated rural developments.

This large-scale project is a result of years of cooperative dialogue among many local entities.  The checkerboard land ownership pattern within the Valley demands a collaborative effort to maintain and restore the integrity of the ecosystem.  Public land management agencies, public resource agencies, private landowners, local governments and elected officials, and local community and conservation groups have all participated in a process to identify and address the resource values of the area.  A community-driven, science-based conservation strategy is being implemented with the guidance of the partners.  The principal partners include:

Trust for Public Land

State of Montana

Plum Creek Timberlands

Missoula and Lake Counties

US Forest Service

US Forest Legacy Program

US Fish & Wildlife Service

Swan Ecosystem Center

Local and regional hunting and fishing sports groups

Local, regional and national conservation organizations

Local citizens, landowners and businesses

The Trust for Public Land (TPL), public land management agencies, public resource management agencies, and the community have been working with the major private landowner (PCT), to develop a long-term conservation strategy that effectively protects the significant ecological and recreational resources of the Swan Valley, while promoting the sustainable management of the Valley’s forest products resources.  This process included a science-based assessment of the wildlife and fisheries resources, timber productivity, and recreational activities. 

The Land & Water Conservation Fund has been a hallmark funding resource for conservation in the Swan Valley.  This program began in 1999 providing funding for the acquisition of 2,500 acres around Lindbergh Lake.  Subsequently, the partnership participated in the design of a long-range acquisition plan for the Flathead National Forest.  Utilizing the LWCF program, nearly 7,200 acres of strategic resource lands have been acquired and incorporated into the Flathead National Forest.

Due to the forested character of the Valley, the Forest Legacy Program will also play a key role in the conservation strategy.  The first two phases have been funded and will contribute to the placement of a conservation easement on about 7,200 acres of Plum Creek forestlands within the Swan River State Forest.  Additional FLP applications have been developed for acquisition of key parcels containing about 2,400 acres, which would be managed as part of the State Forest.

The hydrologic conditions and high water quality of the Swan Valley supports a significant bull trout fishery.  In order to maintain this threatened species, applications will be developed for the USF&WS Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund/Section 6 land acquisition program.

The utilization of these funding programs in the Swan Valley will play a key role in protecting forestland resources and related economic, social, and environmental values.