Alvord Lake Community Forest project update

Guest Commentary:

In the spirit of keeping folks in south Lincoln County informed, this letter summarizes the status of the proposed Alvord Lake Community Forest project. The Vital Ground Foundation, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Three Rivers Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest, Yaak Valley Forest Council, Libby Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and many other local residents and organizations are working together to seek the last portion of funding needed to complete the purchase of the 142-acre parcel that would become the Alvord Lake Community Forest.

This property is located approximately two miles north of Troy and borders the southeast side of Alvord Lake. It is bounded by Kootenai National Forest to the west and Stimson Lumber Company lands  enrolled in the Kootenai Valleys conservation easement  to the north and east. The Friends of Alvord Lake acquired the property in 2003, primarily to ensure the only private parcel on Alvord lake was not subdivided, inappropriately developed or otherwise compromised in relation to the connectivity it provides for the existing segments of public trail around the lake.

In January 2014, the partners above hosted public meetings and workshops to inform the public and seek support, prior to submitting a detailed proposal and management plan to the United States Forest Service. The overall mission statement, as described in the management plan is: “...to manage the property to improve/restore native forests and native plant species, to protect and maintain important fish and wildlife habitats, to continue and expand opportunities for outdoor education while also maintaining historical public uses such as angling, boating, and dispersed recreation such as wildlife viewing and hunting”.

Once purchased, this land would be owned by the Vital Ground Foundation, a qualified non-profit land trust, which will work to implement the community forest management plan in conjunction with the locally-based project stakeholders committee. Vital Ground owns and manages both conservation easements and fee-title forestland holdings throughout western Montana and northern Idaho and the organization will continue to pay applicable property taxes on the parcel after it is acquired.

The proposed Community Forest Management Plan also includes the Vital Ground’s acquisition and donation of a permanent public trail easement on this property that will connect to the Kootenai National Forest trail at both ends. This easement would be conveyed to the forest for long-term management and maintenance. The designation of this area as a community forest has strong community support because it will maintain the current level of public access, protect the area’s natural resources, continue the use of the area for outdoor education and ensure community participation in all future management planning and decisions.

“The Alvord Lake project is a great example of the balance that can be attained between protecting sensitive wildlife habitat and maintaining traditional, productive uses of large, private, rural parcels,“ says Ryan Lutey, Vital Ground’s director of lands. “The property will stay in private ownership and continue to contribute to the local tax base, remain productive from a forest resources perspective, and provide public access to an important recreational area.”

At this time, a variety of funding sources have been initiated.  In May 2014, the Montana Fish & Wildlife Conservation Trust approved $50,000 toward the land purchase. In June 2014, the forest service approved a $400,000 grant for the acquisition and establishment of the Community Forest. In addition, $77,000 in private donations have also been approved, as well as a significant donation in property value from the current owners. The Alvord Lake Community Forest Partners need your help in obtaining additional private donations and grants to match the federal grant. The goal is to raise approximately $150,000 in private donations that will be used to match about $150,000 of additional private and federal grants by end of 2015.

—Russ Gautreaux is a member of the Society of American Foresters