Open Lands Trails Plan outlines multi‑use network, pairs trails work with $4M in restoration funds

The Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Planning Department and the State’s Natural Resource Damage Program presented a multi‑use Open Lands Trails and Recreation Plan intended to guide development and restoration work across county‑owned uplands including Stucky Ridge, A Hill and C Hill. Ray Vinkey of the NRDP described the program’s funding history and the settlement that made the county funds available: "In 2008, we received the settlement for $13,300,000.00 ... once we've completed the cleanup on Stucky Ridge and Mount Haggin, if there were remaining funds, up to $4,000,000.00 could be spent ... to work on county lands." The funds are currently envisioned as up to $1,900,000 for recreational projects, $1,900,000 for ecological and wildlife habitat projects, and $200,000 toward purchase of A Hill.

Open Lands Committee Chair Rich Keeland described the plan’s trail‑design approach and metrics, saying roughly one‑third of the proposed network adopts legacy trails while two‑thirds are proposed new construction and the plan balances motorized and non‑motorized uses: "One-third is adopted legacy trails and two-thirds are proposed new constructed trails," Keeland said. The plan divides the study area into four planning zones and prioritizes trail types and locations; implementation would proceed through annual work plans developed between the county and NRDP to sequence trail construction, ecological work and funding matches.

Commissioners and NRDP staff discussed how trail projects and habitat work could be coordinated to address erosion and invasive‑species risks. NRDP staff said the state funding can serve as a foundation to leverage other grants and that the plan’s long timeline envisions building many lines on the map over the coming decade. The Commission opened the item for further public comment and for later prioritization through annual plans.