LETTER: Montana BHA Supports Graveley-Warm Springs Conservation Easements

January 7th, 2019

Greg Mullen
Natural Resource Damage Program
NRDP@mt.gov 
(406) 444-0205

Re: Graveley-Warm Springs Conservation Easements Funding

To: Greg Mullen and relevant parties,

The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is writing to express our support for the purchase of the Graveley-Warm Springs Conservation Easements.

Our members include roughly 3,000 Montana hunters, anglers and others who adamantly champion North America's outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands and waters.

The purchase of these two easements would be beneficial to our members and all Montana hunters by creating permanent hunting access on lands that are now either only made accessible on an annual decision basis level (Gravelely property in Block Management) or, are not publicly accessible to hunting at all (NCP Bayou II property). These easements would also increase public access to public lands on adjacent BLM and State Trust lands. Additionally, the permanent protection of these lands from development would protect crucial winter habitat for mule deer, elk, pronghorn and moose, as well as, other non-game species. These easements would maintain habitat connectivity in the region and keep a wild landscape intact, which are two central goals of our organization. We support funding for this project from the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program and any other available sources.

We commend Five Valleys Land Trust, the land owners, Fish Wildlife and Parks and The Conservation Fund for their work thus far on this important conservation project. Please keep us informed on how might be able to further support this work and see it through to its completion.

Sincerely,

Corey Ellis, Conservation Committee

Hannah J. Nikonow, Board Member

Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers