U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after securing a $2,000,000 grant for phase two of the Whitefish Lake Watershed project in Flathead County.
This grant allows Montana to place a conservation easement on 3,200 critical acres in Flathead County. The area is an important habitat for grizzly bears, the Canada lynx, and also protects water quality within the Lazy Creek watershed for threatened fish species.
“This area is critical for the protection of wildlife, recreation, timber management and Montana jobs” said Daines. “This grant will help Montana continue its efforts to conserve this area and contribute to our $7 billion outdoor economy.”
This grant follows letters sent by Daines to the U.S. Forest Service requesting that this critical area receive funding under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Statement of Support:
“This grant affirms the vital importance of the multi-phased Stillwater project, which is a true home run for public access, water quality, and habitat protection,” said Dick Dolan, Northern Rockies Director for The Trust for Public Land. “The Trust for Public Land is proud to participate in this collaborative partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Weyerhaeuser Company, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service, and other partners, and we could not be more grateful to the Montana delegation for their steadfast support of the project, this latest funding installment, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund that provides these critical funds.”
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