Tester Statement on the Protection of Public Access for Northwest Montana Conservation Area

Senator: Lost Trail Conservation Area “will provide an opportunity for Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to be put to work right here in Montana”

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today praised the approval of a new conservation area in Northwest Montana that will protect access to key recreation areas and provide opportunities for sustainable timber harvest:

“Public access is a key driver of the economy in Northwest Montana and is critical to our state’s outdoor heritage. It’s good news that conservation easements will be made available to private landowners through the Lost Trail Conservation Area, which will provide an opportunity for Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to be put to work right here in Montana, and this project will help protect access to prime forest lands, create jobs, and ensure folks can continue enjoying this one-of-a-kind landscape for generations to come.”

Located west of Kalispell, permanent easements on up to 100,000 acres within the Lost Trail Conservation Area will also preserve critical wildlife habitat for elk and mule deer, as well as public access for hunting, fishing, hiking, and biking, and allow for sustainable commercial timber harvests.