Tester Secures More Than $35.8 Million to Conserve 86,000 Acres of Land, Expand Public Access for Thousands of Recreationists in Northwest Montana

Funding will come from Senator’s Inflation Reduction Act

As part of his continued efforts to protect public lands and ensure that public lands remain in public hands, U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently secured $35,805,000 in funding from his Inflation Reduction Act to conserve around 86,000 acres of land and provide public access for thousands of recreationists in northwest Montana.

The funding will add 52,810 acres to the Montana Great Outdoors Project and help improve habitat connectivity for wildlife by creating a critical corridor between the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area and Glacier National Park. In addition to expanding access for recreationists, this conservation easement will also provide 3 million board feet of timber per year to area mills.

“Montanans know that public lands belong in public lands, and that’s why investments like this one are critically important to ensure Montana remains the Last Best Place,” Tester said. “I’m proud to have secured this funding to protect critical habitat for our wildlife, expand public access for recreationists, and promote responsible forest management in northwest Montana. This project is not only a win for our public lands and the recreational economy that powers the Flathead – it’s a win for our kids and grandkids who will get to enjoy all that Montana’s great outdoors have to offer for generations to come.”

“The Montana Great Outdoors Project will deliver outstanding benefits to Montanans,” said Dick Dolan, Associate Vice President, Northern Rockies Director, Trust for Public Land. “It will protect important fish and wildlife habitat. It will guarantee public recreational access to these lands. And it will ensure these forest lands will be well-managed and will continue to generate timber and good-paying jobs.”

As Montana’s leading champion for public lands, Tester has long fought to secure funding to improve access, make infrastructure improvements, and preserve Montana’s outdoor heritage. In June, he pushed for action on his Montana Headwaters Legacy Act, which will protect 384 miles of Montana’s most iconic rivers—including the Gallatin, Madison, and Smith as well as headwater streams in the Custer-Gallatin National Forest—to ensure they are permanently protected for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations from short-sighted special interests. He also championed the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation that secures permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually and allocates $9.5 billion to address maintenance backlogs on public lands across the United States.

Additionally, his Blackfoot-Clearwater Stewardship Act, which is supported by 85% of Montanans and would create jobs, protect thousands of acres of public land, and ensure future generations can access the world-class outdoor recreational opportunities available in the Blackfoot River Watershed, passed through the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, setting up the legislation for a full Senate vote.