We a thrilled to announce that a conservation easement now protects 40 acres of primarily undisturbed forest along the Swan River east of Bigfork. Ed Goldberg worked closely with Flathead Land Trust to place the property under easement on May 1. The parcel borders a third of a mile of the Swan River and contains a mosaic of riparian forest and wetlands supporting a myriad of birds and wildlife. The riparian forest houses large mature spruce, cottonwood, aspen and birch trees and a thick understory of shrubs such as hawthorn, serviceberry, alder, and willow. This natural, largely intact forest with standing snags and woody debris on the forest floor also provides quality wildlife habitat. Grizzly bear, black bear, mountain lion, coyote, fox and deer visit the area, along with at least 114 species of birds. The reach of the Swan River along the property provides unique winter habitat vital to trumpeter swans, hooded mergansers, and other waterfowl. The riparian forest and undeveloped floodplain also helps protect the healthy function, water quality and ecological integrity of the Swan River.

Ed Goldberg expressed his sentiments on conservation of this special place: “The wilderness corridor along the Swan River is a national treasure that needs to be preserved as natural habitat and for its recreational value. It has been my privilege to have worked with Flathead Land Trust in establishing a conservation easement and it is my hope other like-minded landowners will consider doing the same.”

Pat and Jake Nissen on their recently conserved property, photo courtesy of Kate Heston, Daily Inter Lake

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.”

Flathead Land Trust is excited to announce that in December 2022, the Kohrs family placed 655 acres of rich farmland and wildlife habitat under conservation easement with Flathead Land Trust.

Three generations of the Kohrs family on their conserved property along the Stillwater River west of Whitefish

The purchased conservation easement will permanently protect the Kohrs investment in farming and wildlife. It will keep over 500 acres of rich farmland in agriculture – some of the best soils in Montana and the nation. The conservation easement will also protect the ecological integrity, healthy river function, and water quality of the Stillwater River as the Kohrs property contains riparian forest and wetlands along 1.7 miles of the river.

The riparian forest and wetlands also provide key wildlife habitat, used by federally listed grizzly bears and a plethora of other wildlife such as black bears, wolves, bobcat, coyote, fox, mountain lion, elk, and deer – all documented with a wildlife camera on the property. Elk calve and whitetail deer winter on the property, and over 100 species of birds also use this area that is now protected under conservation easement. The habitat provided by the Kohrs property enhances winter range and wildlife habitat provided by the adjacent 1,557-acre Kuhns Wildlife Management Area and an additional 1,800 acres of contiguous public land.

Doug and Carolyn Kohrs on their conserved property, photo courtesy of KPAX

We are grateful for the many sources of funding that made this important conservation project possible: the Natural Resource Conservation Service Agricultural Land Easement Program, Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation through the Heart of the Rockies “Keep it Connected” Program, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Mitigation Program.

Even though the third generation has decided not to take over the family farm and instead elected to go into non-agriculture related careers, the family wanted to see their productive land stay in agriculture. They decided the best way to do this was with a purchased conservation easement through the NRCS Agricultural Land Easement program. Not only will the conservation easement ensure that their rich soils can stay in farming in perpetuity, but the family also receives cash they can use for retirement or their farming operation without having to sell any of their land.

While many of these species use the nearby Pablo Reservoir for feeding and nesting, the waterways, wet areas and cultivated fields on the property provide habitat for a diverse array of birds. In fact, over one hundred bird species have been observed in the vicinity of the property. A group of 50 to 75 sandhill cranes regularly use the property as well as species of concern such as bobolink. The property is also adjacent to a 1,849-acre ranch protected with a conservation easement held by Montana Land Reliance that contains some of the grass-covered Valley View Hills. The grassy uplands on this neighboring conservation easement, combined with the moist lowlands of the family farm, provide nesting and feeding habitat for another species of concern, the long-billed curlew, which are also often seen on the property.

December 29, 2021 – Flathead Land Trust just completed a conservation easement that protects 38.9 acres of land owned by siblings, Charles and Diane Taylor, located south of Columbia Falls. This scenic property is less than a half mile from the Flathead River and three miles from the Swan Mountains. The farmstead on the west side of the property looks out over a hayfield nestled in the valley to forested slopes on the eastern side of the property with the Swan Mountains in the distance. The hayfield is underlain by rich agricultural soils including “prime farmland” and “soils of statewide importance” as determined by the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The forested slopes of the hill to the east are regularly used by elk, white-tailed deer, and many birds including great-horned owl, wild turkey, and ring-necked pheasant; an occasional black bear, mountain lion, coyote, or fox also use the property.

The property has been in the family since 1965 and Charles and Diane wanted it to remain a farm with bird and wildlife habitat in perpetuity.

“My sister and I were thankful to be able to work with Flathead Land Trust in order to place a conservation easement on our land to assure the property will remain agricultural and that the flora and fauna will remain relatively undisturbed into the future.” Charles Taylor