Missoula County, city backs bond funds to preserve North Hills ranch

MISSOULA – A large ranch located near a rapidly growing area of ​​the Missoula Valley will be preserved as open space in perpetuity, protecting habitat, wildlife and current ranch operations, as long as the required funding is approved.

The Missoula City Council gave initial approval Wednesday to allocate $344,000 in Open Space Bond funding to secure the easement. Missoula County did the same.

“This project is completely consistent with what the people voted for,” said Commissioner Josh Slotnick. “It checks every box.”

The Indreland Ranch consists of both grasslands and forests and is designated a Tier 1 wildlife concern area by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. It was also identified as an important part of the wildlife corridor from Yellowstone to Yukon.

In addition to the wildlife diversity, proponents of the project said it would also preserve a working ranch and its grasslands. It also offers scenic values, as the property is visible from the Missoula Valley.

“We always examine open space projects to determine whether or not they comply with the 2019 Open Space Plan,” said Zac Covington, the city’s open space project manager. “A lot of background work has been done on the city side in that sense. It is a large piece of land with a large amount of hedge funds.”

Although the 1,660-acre property is valued at $2.4 million, the National Resource Conservation Service has already awarded 50% of the purchase price. Combined with private donations and other funding sources, the project requests just $688,000 from the Open Space Bond – an amount split 50-50 between the city and the county.

Kali Becker, the county’s open space project manager, said language in the Open Space Bond identified the Missoula Valley Planning Region as a jurisdictional boundary. Within that boundary, the city’s share of open space funding would come into play, while projects outside that boundary would fall under the province.

The Indreland project is on the border, hence the financing split between city and province.

“It was seen as a good opportunity for a joint project,” said Becker.

Advantages

Supporters of the project said the property represents an important cornerstone of the Missoula Valley. It is close to the Lolo National Forest and the Rattlesnake Wilderness and is partially fed by LaValle Creek.

Another 160-acre easement is on one side, while a second 1,000-acre easement, owned by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, is on the other.

Given the mix of native grassland and timber on the property, proponents say it provides “undisturbed” habitat for a range of species native to the area. It also serves as critical winter habitat for the North Hills elk herd.

The creek is home to genetically pure native cutthroat trout.

Growth in the Missoula Valley has already put development pressure on the site and now is the time to preserve it, advocates say.

“The city is emerging to meet that. There is growth there,” said Whitney Schwab, executive director of the Five Valleys Land Trust. “This project offers the opportunity to look into the future. The opportunity to preserve the landscape only comes once.”

County commissioners unanimously approved the Open Space Bond funding request. The City Council also approved it, but with two opponents, including Councilors Sandra Vasecka and Bob Campbell.

Both governments will officially approve the funding at a future meeting.

“My feeling is that when people within the city limits at least passed this band, they did so with the intention that it would promote more recreational opportunities, public access and even more agricultural land preservation in the area,” Campbell said.

Several other council members said the project’s location was a challenge for the city’s open space funding. But they also recognized population growth in the region and the need to preserve critical habitat and open space while the opportunity exists.

“I know how much the Wye area is changing and about to change, and I also appreciate that this (Inderland) family is willing to enter into an easement,” said Councilor Jennifer Savage. “But I’m one of those people who would like to see some prioritization of the rest of our city funds so we can look inward, especially since our land use plan requires us to do so as well.”

Councilmember Kristen Jordan also supported the project.

“We need to set aside land as quickly as possible given the growth and the fact that public lands are being snapped up and prioritized forever and ever,” she said.