EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 



BLACKFOOT-CLEARWATER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA 



50th anniversary project-PHASE II LAND EXCHANGES 



DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 



PROPOSED ACTION 



Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and 

 Montana Department of Natural Resources 

 and Conservation (DNRC), in collaboration 

 with Plum Creek Timber Company (Plum 

 Creek), propose the Blackfoot-Clearwater 

 Wildlife Management Area (BCWMA) 50'^ 

 Anniversary Project-Phase II Land 

 Exchanges. The BCWMA is located 

 approximately 40 miles east of the city of 

 Missoula via State Route 200 (Figure 1-1). If 

 the preferred alternative (Alternative D) is 

 selected, the following actions would occur: 



• DNRC would acquire approximately 3,040 

 acres currently owned by Plum Creek 

 within the BCWMA, by exchanging 2,760 

 acres of scattered parcels in its ownership 

 outside the BCWMA 



• FWP would acquire up to 1 ,400 acres of 

 high-phority, elk winter range already 

 owned by DNRC within the BCWMA, by 

 exchanging approximately 1 ,740 acres in 

 Its ownership on the periphery of winter 

 range in the BCWMA (i.e., the forested 

 portion of the old Dreyer Ranch). 



These two exchanges would: (1 ) Reduce 

 Plum Creek's control of elk winter range on 

 the BCWMA by 3,040 acres; (2) Block up 

 FWP's ownership in high-priority winter range 

 by up to 1 ,400 acres; (3) Block up DNRC's 

 ownership on productive forested land on the 

 periphery of winter range in the BCWMA; and 

 (4) Increase DNRC's efficiency in generating 

 revenues for the School Trusts by disposing of 

 selected, scattered ownerships. 



Also under Alternative D, FWP and DNRC 

 would enter into a Cooperative Management 

 Agreement pertaining to lands within the 

 BCWMA, which would include the following: 



• terms for cooperative timber management 

 across DNRC and FWP parcels to benefit 

 wildlife habitat and the state trust lands in 

 a manner that fulfills the missions and 

 mandates of both agencies; 



• commitment for DNRC to forego certain 

 development righ;ts and FWP to 

 compensate DNRC the corresponding 

 value of $20,000 annually, through the 

 purchase of a 1 0-year conservation 

 license or lease; 



• intent for FWP and DNRC to work toward 

 agreement on a future longer term lease 

 or permanent conservation easement on 

 DNRC lands in the BCWMA to perpetuate 

 the purposes of both agencies (which 

 would be the subject of a supplemental 

 environmental analysis and public review 

 process in the future, when specific terms 

 are developed and proposed); 



• an agreement for cooperative 

 management of noxious weeds by FWP 

 and DNRC on the BCWMA. 



PURPOSE 



Of the total 65,275 BCWMA acres, only 24% 

 are owned by FWP and dedicated to 

 managing for elk and deer winter range. FWP 

 leases the remaining 76% of the BCWMA from 

 Plum Creek (39,463 acres), DNRC (10,137 

 acres), and others. These leases and licenses 



BCWMA Land Exchanges Draft Environmental Impact Statement 



Executive Summary - 1 



