Several Flathead farm families were thanked for their commitment to conserving wetlands, riparian areas and prime farm land on their properties at a March 25 luncheon celebrating the success of a major land conservation project initiated by the Flathead Land Trust.  Flathead Lakers President Rose Schwennesen (left, middle) presented Ray and Darlene Sanders and Steve and Susan Cummings with framed aerial photographs of their lands during the celebration in Kalispell hosted by the Flathead Lakers. Other families recognized for their participation in the project included Rusby and Liz Seabaugh, Larry and Bernice O'Connell, Mr. and Mrs. John Heine and Dave Heine, and Eric and Rebecca Smith. "This project gives land owners the opportunity to be compensated for development values they forego," Schwennesen said. "But most importantly, conservation of critical areas and important farm land at this scale happened only because of their conservation ethic."
When the final transactions are completed, the project will protect nearly 1,500 acres using the voluntary means of purchased and donated development rights. The lands remain in private ownership and in continued agricultural production. These lands around Weaver and McWenneger Sloughs and at Foy's Bend along the Flathead River help protect water quality, provide fish and wildlife habitat, support recreation, and contribute to maintaining the agricultural heritage and economy in the Flathead Valley. Schwennesen also thanked a long list of organizations, agencies and funders who contributed technical and financial support to the project. In particular, she congratulated Flathead Land Trust President Ken Siderius, the land trust's board of directors, Executive Director Roger Semler, and former executive director Susan How for their vision and perseverance. Senators Baucus and Burns were also recognized for providing key support in securing funding for the project. Conservation planning expert and guest speaker Marty Zeller congratulated the Flathead Land Trust and its many partners for their success in protecting critical lands along the Flathead River. "Until you actually see conservation projects...until you have stories coming out of the land, you can't see the true potential" of these efforts, said Zeller. The "power of place" is what engages the community in embracing the conservation of priority critical lands, "and you have it in spades." Zeller and his Colorado-based company, Conservation Partners, Inc., work with land owners and land trusts throughout the Rocky Mountain West to develop community-based strategies that protect lands with high conservation values, strategies that are tailored to the financial, family, tax and conservation objectives of the participants. "There's a whole world of alternative ways that rural western communities can constructively address or influence the rapid changes they are experiencing. Unfortunately, all too many have stood by and watched as their identities, rural character and special lands that define and support them are irretrievably lost," Zeller said. Schwennesen said that building partnerships with many groups and individuals was essential to the project's success. The diverse partnerships that were created and the success of the project hold promise for future conservation of critical lands in the Flathead Watershed.
What do we mean by "Critical Lands"? Critical lands are areas that help keep our streams, rivers and lakes clean and that also sustain important wildlife habitat, recreation, and scenery, all contributing to the special quality of life for which the Flathead is known. These areas include wetlands, flood plains and riparian areas along streams and rivers. When left in a natural state, they provide a buffer that filters out sediments, nutrients and other pollutants from runoff before it reaches a water body. These areas are often threatened by development because of their desirable scenic qualities. What is the Critical Lands Project? The Critical Lands Project is a collaborative effort to identify, protect and restore lands that help maintain and improve water quality. Participants in the project include resource managers from local, state, federal and tribal governments, scientists, representatives of land conservation organizations and interested individuals. The project was initiated by the Flathead Lakers, a nonprofit organization working for clean water, healthy ecosystems, and lasting quality of life in the Flathead Watershed, who recognized the importance of the connections between wetlands, flood plains, riparian areas, shallow groundwater systems and the quality of our streams, rivers and lakes. The project produced a Critical Lands Status Report in 2002 that systematically compiled data from scientific studies and assessments by land and water resource professionals to identify and describe critical areas in the Flathead Valley. The report was developed with input from numerous public and private agencies and organizations that have specialized, local knowledge about these resources. How has the Critical Lands Status Report been used? It provides the participating conservation professionals with the opportunity to share information about conservation opportunities and threats, and determine where they have common goals so they can work together for more effective use of limited funds and manpower. The first effort to secure the protection of high priority wetlands, riparian areas and associated farm land is the "Weaver-McWenneger Project," which has been led by the Flathead Land Trust and is now nearing completion.
Weaver and McWenneger Sloughs have long been recognized for their multiple conservation values. These significant wetlands protect water quality and provide valuable wildlife habitat, including waterfowl habitat. Another component of the project, at Foy's Bend along the Flathead River, provides, in addition, important fisheries habitat. The areas protected also include prime farm lands and contribute to maintaining our agricultural heritage and economy in the Flathead. The long-time farming families who participated in the project have a strong desire to protect both the farm land and conservation values of their properties. Success of the Critical Lands Project hinges on finding voluntary ways to protect lands with the highest conservation values. The purchase and donation of development rights is one such way, and has been used in the Weaver-McWenneger Project. Purchasing development rights fairly compensates the private landowners for foregoing subdivision while still maintaining private ownership and private land management. The land owners also agreed, as part of the project, to accept a "bargain sale," or lower than fair market price, for their development rights. Assembling the funding needed to protect Weaver and McWennegers Sloughs and Foy's Bend required far more effort than a single entity could muster. At least 28 organizations, agencies and farm families participated in making this project a success. The project is a working example of how the many participants achieved common goals and saved outstanding community assets for future generations. The result: 1,470 acres of wetland, riparian, and prime farm land protected using the voluntary means of purchased and donated development rights. These lands remain in private ownership and in continued agricultural production.
Early in the Critical Lands Project, the participating groups together developed criteria for identifying and prioritizing Critical Lands. These criteria include: - Protects water quality in Flathead Lake and/or streams and rivers in the Flathead Watershed;
- Provides significant fish and wildlife habitat as well as cultural, recreational and/or aesthetic opportunities and amenities important to the quality of life in the Flathead;
- Provides connection to other protected critical lands;
- At risk for development that jeopardizes the above qualities;
- Enjoys land owner and community support.
What are the future plans for the Critical Lands Project? Critical Lands Project participants will: - Continue to build cooperation and work together to identify and protect high priority critical lands;
- Work with willing land owners to protect and restore important wetlands and riparian corridors;
- Encourage better understanding in our communities about the benefits of these critical lands;
- Attract to the Flathead conservation funding that would otherwise go to other regions and states, and that will provide private land owners and the community with more choices concerning the future of our valley.
Flathead Lakers stewardship project
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