Flathead County commissioners back Montana Great Outdoors conservation easement phase 2

Flathead County commissioners voted to sign a letter of support for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Montana Great Outdoors conservation easement phase 2, a proposal covering about 52,000–53,000 acres now owned by Green Diamond Resource Company.

County Administrator Pete Melnick told commissioners the phase is part of a broader effort to secure roughly 85,000 acres of timberland for future public use. “This is a letter of support for that conservation easement of 52,000, almost 53,000 acres of timberland currently owned by Green Diamond Resource Company,” Melnick said.

Commissioners said the easement preserves public access while keeping lands on the tax rolls. One commissioner said he had not generally favored conservation easements until they were modified to remain open to public uses including logging and agriculture and that this easement “protects access, in perpetuity for our citizens.” Another commissioner said the easement “maintains the public access to these lands that I think are critical for recreation opportunities.”

The motion to sign the letter passed on a voice vote with all commissioners present voting in favor. No public comment was recorded on the item during the meeting.

The letter supports Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Phase 2 application; the county’s Phase 1 support had been signed previously and was ultimately successful. The county did not adopt regulatory measures as part of this action; the vote was a formal letter of support only.

Details recorded in the meeting packet identified the landowner as Green Diamond Resource Company and the phase as a continuation of an earlier conservation easement initiative. The county did not set funding commitments for the easement in this vote and noted the action is a nonbinding expression of support by the Board of Commissioners.