RMEF land acquisition, conveyance to USFS improves access near Lewis and Clark Pass

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation says a recently completed land purchase and conveyance will conserve 620 acres near Green Mountain east of Lincoln, protecting elk and wildlife habitat and creating improved public access to lands near Lewis and Clark Pass.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation purchased the property on the east slope of the Continental Divide from the Ingersoll family of Wolf Creek in March and conveyed the property to the Helena - Lewis and Clark National Forest on April 2.

The land had been part of the Ingersoll family ranching operation since the early 20th century, and there were concerns about outside purchasers and development pressure, according to a summary provided by the Forest Service.

HLCNF spokesperson Kathy Bushnell said the property - known as the Green Mountain National Trails property - will become part of the Lincoln Ranger District and will be managed in the same way as adjacent National Forest lands.

The project ranked 9th nationally for fiscal year 2018 LWCF funding, and the RMEF effort had support from several quarters, including Montana's congressional delegation, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Lewis and Clark County Commission and the Vital Ground Foundation, an organization dedicated to grizzly bear habitat conservation.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund covered$745,000 of the purchase price, with the RMEF covering the remaining $92,000.

The property is considered important territory for grizzlies as well as several other wildlife species, including lynx,wolverine, white tail and mule deer. The elk herd that frequents the area reportedly numbers in the thousands.

The landscape of the area is primarily Ponderosa pine forest, but includes some aspen groves and small meadows. About 53 percent of the property saw low- to moderate - intensity fire during 2017's Alice Creek Fire, which the Forest Service says created a mosaic of habitat types.

The acquisition of the property also has implications for trails in the area, including the Continental Divide Trail and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

"The Green Mountain National Trails property will perpetually benefit the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The U.S. Forest Service moved the Continental Divide Trail off of this parcel when it was under private ownership so the public could still use it, but crews will soon restore it to its correct and historic route," Bill Avey, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest supervisor, said in an RMEF press release on the project last week. "On behalf of the American public, the Forest Service thanks the RMEF and the Ingersoll family."

The Continental Divide Trail Coalition has plans to work on the CDNST near Green Mountain this summer, but Lincoln Ranger District Natural Resource Specialist Josh Lattin said that project isn't related to the Green Mountain National Trails property acquisition.