Commission hears $4M NRDP-backed Open Lands Trails Plan; public splits on bike-optimized trails and hunting access

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County commissioners heard a detailed presentation and extended public comment on Jan. 13 for an Open Lands Trails and Recreation Plan developed with funding direction from the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP).

Ray Vinkey, a scientist with NRDP, summarized the funding and legal background: the state pursued a claim related to historic smelting and mining impacts that resulted in a 2008 settlement with Atlantic Richfield Company. "In 2008, we received the settlement for $13,300,000.00," Vinkey said, and explained that after remedial work on Stucky Ridge and Mount Haggin, up to $4,000,000.00 may be spent on county lands under an "Anaconda Amendment," with approximately $1.9 million directed to recreation projects, $1.9 million for ecological and wildlife habitat projects, and $200,000 for purchase of the A Hill.

Planning Director Carl Hamming and Open Lands Committee Chair Rich Keeland described how the plan was assembled with Five Valleys Land Trust and community outreach. Keeland said the committee sought a "balanced community-driven inclusive approach" and outlined a proposed network that mixes retained legacy trails with newly constructed multi-use routes. The committee described four planning zones (Stucky Ridge, A Hill, C Hill, Clear Creek/behind the ski hill) and a proposed mix of trail characters: multi-use motorized and non-motorized singletrack, side-by-side two-track, and a small percentage of single-use trails.

Public response was divided. Supporters highlighted health, recreation and economic benefits and said the plan will provide close-to-town access to foothill recreation. "We have this incredible resource out our back door," said Kelly Irons, a pediatrician, who emphasized youth access to outdoor recreation. Several commenters and committee members said the plan will be implemented via annual prioritized work plans and that NRDP funds can be a foundation to leverage additional grants.

Critics raised concerns that the plan over-emphasizes "bike optimized" features and under-represented hunting and pedestrian-only space. "The Steering Committee completely disregarded the results of the community survey and made a recreation plan that fit their personal and business desires," said Jenette Bomberger during public comment; she urged commissioners not to adopt the plan "as is." Open Lands Committee members responded that the phrase "bike optimized" was intended to describe trail character that remains accessible to pedestrians and not a plan to exclude hikers or hunters.

Financing, scale and implementation were also central topics. Vinkey noted that while $4,000,000.00 is a significant foundation, it is intended to seed projects and be used as match funding for additional grants. "Two years ago, the EPA certified that all of the cleanup was done on Stucky Ridge and Mount Haggin, that then initiated the process... to develop what we're calling the 'Anaconda Amendment', which again provides up to $4,000,000.00 to work on county lands," Vinkey said.

Next steps: committee members asked the commission to adopt the plan as a guiding document for annual work plans and grant packaging; several local organizations signaled readiness to help fund or construct priority segments. Commissioners did not take a formal adoption vote on Jan. 13; instead the discussion and public commentary were recorded and the plan will remain before the commission for future action and implementation planning.

What to watch: how the county prioritizes initial construction (which segments first), whether NRDP recreation/ecology funds will be used together on projects that address erosion or habitat concerns, and whether commissioners require more public outreach or modifications to trail character language before formal adoption.