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University of Montana Law School Conference

The US Forest Service needs an overhaul in its management of public lands in order to effectively handle diverse recreation, climate change, extractive industries, as well as align with an emerging land ethic, said a prominent panel at the University of Montana Land Law conference.

The University of Montana 32nd annual Land Law Conference took place earlier this week in Missoula. This panel discussion on the future of the Forest Service as it moves into the next administration, was just one of the many in-depth land law discourses presented at the conference. [more]

From New West Blog

A judge ruled that Yellowstone National Park’s proposed increase in snowmobile use would have adverse effects on the nation’s first national park.

Federal District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan stated in his ruling that the proposed number of snowmobiles “clearly elevates use over conservation of park resources and values,” reports the New York Times.

The order negates the current plan to increase 540 snowmobiles daily into the park for the upcoming winter season, and demands another draft of the plan.
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Where do we go from here?

Sprawl and growth management are subjects that need dialogue in Montana, as our landscape changes and our towns become cities.

This Friday in Helena, the Montana Smart Growth Coalition will be hosting its 5th annual Big Sky Big Sprawl conference at Carroll College on Friday, September 19th.

In the morning, discussions topics will include: transportation and land use, financing of affordable housing, wildlife habitat and corridors, and rural landscape development practices, to name a few.

And in the afternoon, sessions with take these topics into more hands-on, small group-oriented workshops. Click here for more information.
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From The New West Blog

National Geographic Adventure released their latest “50 Next Great Adventure Towns” and at the top of the list in the Rockies: Missoula, Montana.

Coined as the “Outpost to a Bigger Sky,” Missoula was captured in one shot: A cruiser bike poised outside of Bernice’s Bakery.

The article quoted Alex Gallego, owner of Missoula Bicycle Works, as saying, “It’s surrounded by mountains, trails are everywhere, and the outdoors are completely open to you.”

A few of the other “next adventure” Rocky Mountain towns include: Lander, Wyoming; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Carbondale, Colorado; Prescott, Arizona; Red Lodge, Montana; and Hailey, Idaho. [more]

Country Roads May Not Take Them Home

According to a story in the Helena Independent Record, the Glen Ranch, slated to be a 2,599-lot subdivision, is projected to increase the population of City of Three Forks by threefold. But the developer's bankruptcy filed this week will decelerate the proposed two golf courses, new water and sewer facilities, and town center.

And it all came down to who pays for the road improvements, reports writer Marga Lincoln.

Broadwater County Commissioners required Steve and Susie Cavanaugh to pay for the road improvements surrounding the development as a condition to approval. With an outstanding bill of $258,399, the commissioners rescinded subdivision approval in February 2008, and barred Rolling Glen from selling or transferring lots or homes, the story says. [more]

Something just ain't straight

In the recent wave of gravel pit approvals in the Gallatin Valley, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality has received quite a bit of criticism.

Last week, District Court Judge Jeffrey Sherlock issued a stay on his April ruling that required the department to permit gravel pits without first doing environmental analysis.

George Ochenski has an interesting column in this week’s Missoula Independent, where he writes “Sherlock then gives DEQ a legal tongue-lashing, writing that the agency ‘did not present any of the constitutional analysis in its original brief which has now been presented by the landowner-Intervenors.’ He continues the criticism, saying, ‘the DEQ is doggedly refusing to do anything to review the permits. The DEQ has not only violated the Legislature’s mandate…but it has not even bothered to start the environmental assessment process. Further, it has not even extended the time period involved, nor has it issued findings that would allow it to withhold the requested permits…’”
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From The New West Blog

Silicon Valley software mogul donated $3.9 million to the Trust for the Public Lands this week, with specific requirements that is goes to protecting the open space and agricultural heritage of the Madison Valley in Southwest Montana.

Roger Lang, owner of the Sun Ranch, is hoping to protect 1 million acres of the Madison Valley under conservation easement, driven by his “love for the region,” reports Daniel Pearson from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

The Sun Ranch, also located in the Madison Valley, is an example of a new development model for land conservation, where 95 percent of the 11,000 acres is placed under conservation easement while 10 lots are available, priced between $5 million and $8 million. All the money raised then goes back into buying more land and land easements.
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Energy exploration in our backyard

State-owned land in and around Gallatin County could up for oil and gas development — parcels that include the riverbeds of the Yellowstone and Boulder Rivers.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation considers the sale of school trust land each quarter for oil and gas leasing, and are currently in the preliminary lease sale stage. And they are moving fast. Public comment closes on Friday, Aug. 1st, with the sale set on Sept. 9th.

In Gallatin County, three parcels north of Interstate 90 in the Bozeman Pass area are listed on the lease sale list — an area that is prospective with oil, methane and coal from past exploratory test sites, but does fall under the Bozeman Pass zoning district that residents created in 2001 following potential coal-bed methane drilling which the Gallatin County Commissioners were pressured to implement emergency interim zoning. [more]

We all care for this land

Last week I spent two days with 20 ranchers and 2 journalists. Everyone except the journalists wore boots and pants. Everyone except the journalists was up early. At times I felt totally out of place, yet right at home.

I know I come from a different breed, a more urban outlook. That is why I was nervous to attend the Undaunted Stewardship tour with the Montana Stockgrowers Association, knowing I would be on a tour bus, eating three meals a day with folks that I didn’t think I would have much in common with, nor really know what to discuss. As a journalist, of course I’m going to undertake the challenge, and I sure didn’t expect to be so enthralled, tutored and standing on the same ground as my weathered neighbor. [more]

Is trouble in paradise really over?

The battle over control of the exclusive Yellowstone Club may be coming to n end, reports the Wall Street Journal, with Edra Blixseth taking over her estranged husband Tim's 50% stake and becoming the sole owner of the club.

The deal came as part of the couple's divorce settlement, the Journal reported (though the Journal last year ran a story characterizing the divorce as a model of amicability, and that turned out to be far from the case). The story of the club's woes has turned into a veritable courtroom soap opera, echoing with phrases such as "liquidity crisis," "breach of fiduciary duty" and "hopelessly conflicted."

The Journal says Edra will bring in Discovery Land Co. to manage the club, which is struggling with a heavy debt load and a cratering real estate market. At least some club members, who are horrified by the negative publicity, have told New West they favor professional management.

History suggests this is not the end of the story, so stay tuned.

[more]

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