Property Near Stillwater River Conserved!

Near the Stillwater River less than five miles northwest of Whitefish, a twenty-four-acre open space property has been conserved from future development by Pat Nissen and his son, Jake. The property, conserved on January 27 through a conservation easement with Flathead Land Trust, is adjacent to and compliments another twenty-seven-acre property already conserved with Flathead Land Trust.

The Nissen property serves as a wildlife movement corridor for bears and other animals moving between the Whitefish Range and the Stillwater River. It includes a mix of open hay fields and a small forest that provides cover for wildlife. Conserving the property preserves this wildlife habitat as well as its working agricultural land and the scenic value of the property along Highway 93.

Pat Nissen has cared for the property for forty years and was committed to seeing it conserved. When asked about his decision to conserve the property, Nissen got philosophical by paraphrasing poet William Wordsworth. “Little we see in nature that is ours, getting and spending we lay waste our hours,” Nissen said.

Flathead Land Trust, a non-profit organization that works with willing private landowners to help conserve their land in perpetuity, was excited to work with the Nissen family on the effort according to Ryan Hunter, who worked on the project for the organization. “We are always looking for opportunities to enhance the conservation value of previously conserved property. The Nissens’ decision to conserve their land nearly doubles the acreage of protected property in the area, to the benefit of the whole community.”