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What does the loss of recreational land mean to the citizens of Plains?

Eventual loss of almost 9,000 acres

Need public input on what land is most important to save

Needing financial backing to save land

This summer, almost 9,000 acres are going to go up for market in both Combest Creek and Swamp Creek. Up to this point this land has been privately owned by multiple different companies that have allowed public access. This land has been used for multi-recreational uses for many outdoorsmen. Without the input of concerned citizens, all this land can and most likely will sell to the highest bidder for whatever purpose suits that buyer’s goals. Without help from our community, this land will forever be lost for outdoor recreations and future generations.

For residents that have grown up in the Plains valley, most have a story or two of playing in the woods and mountains, especially in the Combest creek and Swamp Creek drainages- the former being elk habitat for years. This land has been logged and has left low brush and shrub for great animal viewing and hunting. Grouse, elk, deer, mountain lions, bear, even badgers have been spotted in this little honey-hole of activities. The parcels going up on the market in Swamp creek contain Lolo National Forest easements and access and are lush, full of older coniferous trees, an all season creek, wild berries and mushrooms, and plenty of animals find themselves cooling down and eating at the creekside. The loss of these lands could mean the displacement of wildlife, and the removal of outdoor exploration and hunting/ trapping. We need the residents of Plains and Sanders County to join us in vocalizing how much public access to the lands around us means to us.

Currently, the Plains Public Access Group is trying to save this land, but we need help. We

need the public’s input on what parcels are most important to save (Combest/ Swamp/ both?) and if this land was bought privately for public use, what would they want to see done, or more importantly, what would they NOT want to see done? Without the voices and input from concerned citizens our future will most definitely not include this land.

More information can be found at: https://plainspublicaccess.org/ or on Facebook under

“Wildhorse Plains Public Access Project”. Please reach out to the Plains Public access group

([email protected]) or Zach Whipple-Kilmer at [email protected], Garrett Boon at [email protected] or Bambi Wright at [email protected] if you would like to add your voice to support keeping this land accessible, or if you would like to help invest in this cause.

Zach Whipple-Kilmer, Garrett Boon and Bambi Wright, Plains Public Access Group