North shore land deal completed

Bigfork Eagle

A conservation project protecting 189 acres along the north shore of Flathead Lake was completed Friday.

The project was the result of a collaborative effort by landowner Darrell Worm, Flathead Land Trust, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Bonneville Power Administration.

This conservation project helps protect the water quality of Flathead Lake and adds to the protection of land used by tens of thousands of migratory birds as an important refueling stop each spring on their long journey from wintering grounds in Mexico to their breeding grounds in Canada, according to Laura Katzman of the Flathead Land Trust.

 “My hope for this unique property has been that it could be preserved for the people of Montana to enjoy and that its historic character could be protected,” Worm, a Kalispell attorney, said. “I am thrilled that through the efforts of the Flathead Land Trust and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks this hope can be realized.” To accomplish this he agreed to a “bargain sale” of his property to the state and, using proceeds from the sale, to fund the restoration of the historic barn built by the original homesteaders of the property, Katzman said.

The Worm property will be managed as the North Shore Wildlife Management Area and adjoins the sate Wildlife Management Area and State Park that are 161 acres in size. The property is also adjacent to the 1,887-acre Flathead Lake Waterfowl Production Area administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation easements held on private land by Montana Land Reliance and Flathead Land Trust. The Worm property includes agricultural lands that frequently flood in the spring during snowmelt and provide a food source for migratory waterfowl, Katzman said.

The parcel will provide public opportunities for both wildlife viewing and hunting and will be managed similarly to other public lands on the north shore.

The state purchased the 189 acres with money from the Bonneville Power Administration fisheries mitigation program. This program provides funding for conservation projects to mitigate for the loss of fish habitat from the construction of Hungry Horse Dam.

Flathead Land Trust initiated and facilitated the conservation project. “Flathead Land Trust deserves a great deal of the credit for bringing this project to fruition,” Gael Bissell of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said.

Flathead Land Trust is a nonprofit organization established in 1985 by community members to maintain open space. “We typically work

with private landowners to implement conservation easements to protect the important conservation values of their land,” Katzman said. “However, in this case, the landowner wanted to sell his property. We were happy to help with this great conservation project and commend Darrell Worm for his commitment and patience toward a conservation outcome for his property.”

This conservation project continues effort to conserve land along the north shore of Flathead Lake and the Flathead River known as the Flathead River to Lake Initiative. Over the past 10 years, the Flathead River to Lake Initiative partners, including many private landowners dedicated to careful stewardship of this important resource, have conserved nearly 5,000 acres of critical lands along the lower Flathead River and north shore of Flathead Lake. Katzman said. There are 11,000 acres of protected private and public lands. “These critical lands include those important to maintain our excellent water quality, healthy river function, abundant fish and wildlife, and important agricultural soils,” Constanza von der Pahlen of the Flathead Lakers said.

The new state land will be available for public recreation, with a seasonal closure from March 1 to July 15 for migrating and nesting birds. Future plans include maintaining agricultural production along with gradual wetland and riparian restoration.