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The Sanders County Rural Landscape Initiative, operated by local resident Zachary Whipple-Kilmer, has voiced concerns regarding the state of private lands surrounding Sanders County that sold earlier this year. The land the Sanders County Rural Initiative is concerned about amounts to 630,000 acres. Previously owned by Weyerhaeuser, the acreage sold to a Georgia-based land investment company called Southern Pine Plantations. The company is now doing business as SPP Montana.

Whipple-Kilmer, from Plains, put together the group no less than a month ago. "I started hearing locals talking, and no one had any idea what was going on," he said. "Our group has the utmost respect for private property, but it took a lot of people off guard finding posted signs and rumors of closing off lands to which families have had access to for generations," Whipple-Kilmer continued. "I think the threat of development and changing the rural characteristics of our valley is in the back of people's minds too."

In December 2019, Weyerhaeuser announced in a news release, the company reached an agreement to sell the 630,000 acres of timberland in Montana to the private timberland investment company for $145 million. The acquisition gained attention among residents, as the land includes acreage around the Thompson Chain of Lakes, Flathead Lake, Fisher River and Thompson River, as well as land surrounding Thompson Falls and Plains, according to the Sanders County Rural Initiative.

Concerns regarding public access, quality of life and the ability to maintain a traditional and rural lifestyle motivated Whipple-Kilmer to initiate the necessary steps to inform the public about the potential effects this sale would have on Sanders County. In his extensive research, Whipple-Kilmer outlines on his website the current state of the 630,000 acres and what the future could look like for the land in question. "As of now, there has been little movement with the current land situation involving the 630,000 acres that were recently sold," the Sanders County Rural Initiative's website says.

A large conservation easement has been proposed that would cover 130,000 acres, stretching through portions of Sanders, Lincoln and Flathead counties. What is being called The Montana Great Outdoors Project, is being brokered by SPP; The Trust for Public Land (TPL); and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). According to a press release from TPL, after SPP purchased the property from Weyerhaeuser in early 2020, a large-scale campaign was launched by the public, the State, and Montana's elected officials to see if the land could be protected. Because of these initial concerns, "SPP agreed to work with TPL to place a conservation easement on the land if funds are secured quickly," the press release states. "If a conservation easement is secured on the property it will be protected from future development while remaining in private hands so its timber can be actively managed for the long term," the press release continued. "The public will also be provided permanent access to the property for recreation."

"We recognize that a viable timber industry and outdoor recreational access are both important to the people of Montana. If a conservation easement can be secured on these lands, it will provide a long‐term solution toward preserving both. We look forward to working with the federal, state and non‐profit partners to reach this goal," Pat Patton, the Manager for SPP Montana, said in the press release.

The Ledger reached out to FWP for further information regarding the projects. In an email sent from Dillon Tabish, Regional Information and Education Program Manager for FWP, Region 1, a summary of three different projects in the works for the land was given.

"This potential project [The Montana Great Outdoors Project] would involve Trust for Public Land working with SPP to acquire a conservation easement on approximately 130,000 acres. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks would hold this easement. SPP would maintain private land ownership and would continue to be able to use the property for commercial timber management. The land would be permanently open to public access for fishing, hunting, biking and more recreational uses. This would conserve important fish and wildlife habitat and migration corridors while maintaining wood-product jobs. This potential project is still early in development, and any FWP easement acquisitions would be open for public comment at a later date and subject to Fish and Wildlife Commission endorsement. The potential funding sources would be the Forest Service Forest Legacy Program, which uses federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) dollars, as well as State of Montana matching funds and private funding."

The second easement, called The Lost Trail Conservation Area, is a recently proposed project that spans to 70,000 acres of SPP land. While this particular project touches land in Sanders County, the draft environmental assessment and draft land protection plan are open to public comment and review until October 16.

Information sent to The Ledger regarding this project states, "this potential project involves 100,000 acres of private land, including approximately 70,000 acres owned by SPP Montana, that would be targeted for conservation easements with willing landowners. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would hold these easements. Just like the other easement, these would ensure permanent public access in one of the best elk hunting areas in the region, and allow the property to be sustainably managed for timber production while preserving important wildlife habitat and migration corridors. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would use federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) dollars to purchase easements within the Conservation Area. LWCF dollars are derived from federal offshore oil and gas leasing and are not taxpayer dollars. No fee-title acquisition by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would be authorized."

The result of the two conservation easements would allow for the opportunity to permanently protect 200,000 acres in northwest Montana, allowing for future protection of wildlife habitat and connectivity, sustainable and economical timber movement, and protection for public recreation on these lands.

The last piece of information sent to The Ledger from Tabish outlines information regarding a proposed conservation easement on 7,256 acres of SPP (formerly Weyerhaeuser) land adjacent to the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge. "The tentative plan is to complete this by the end of the calendar year. We are about to release this draft proposal for public comment in the coming weeks. FWP would hold the conservation easement on 7,256 acres while SPP would maintain property ownership and be able to continue sustainable forest management. This would prevent development of the land, sustain wood-product jobs, protect valuable wildlife habitat and a key migratory corridor, and provide permanent, year-round public access to popular recreation lands. This project would protect the north slope of Dredger Ridge, a favorite walk-in elk hunting area. The property also supports grizzly bear and Canada lynx. The U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program and Habitat Montana would be the funding sources."

Another finding of Whipple-Kilmer's includes a sale of 11,000 acres to MKH Montana, LLC, a real estate developer in Texas. "There is not much information out regarding this group. We did some digging online and found a few pieces of information, which Whipple-Kilmer says can be found on his website. Further information on these projects can be found at http://sanders

countylands.wordpress.com.