Sieben Ranch (Rattlesnake Creek) conservation easement, Sieben Ranch (Mill Creek) fee title acquisition, Lyons Creek (Sieben and O'Connell Ranches) conservation easement : proposal by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks PDF
Preview Sieben Ranch (Rattlesnake Creek) conservation easement, Sieben Ranch (Mill Creek) fee title acquisition, Lyons Creek (Sieben and O'Connell Ranches) conservation easement : proposal by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
liN Ri STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION 1)1 MAR 1 2 2001 Rattlesnake Creek MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 1515 E. 6th AVE. HELENA, MONTANA 59620 Conservation Easement Mill Creek Acquisition Conservation Easement • Environmental Assessments • Management Plans • Socio-Economic Assessments A Proposal by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks Comment Period OnThis Proposal Is FromJune 21 toJuly 26. Submit CommentsTo: Montana Department Fish, Wildhfe & Paries c/oSieben/O'Connell Ranch Comments 930CusterAvenue West Helena, MT 59520-0701 ^ Public hearingJuly 16, 1996 inthe i"^vtv-- State Room, Colonial Inn, Helenaat 7p.m. For Additional InformationContact: Joel Peterson, Region 3 Wildlife Manager |406) 994-4042 jniiNwtif-'jr.'.EH MONTANASTATELIBRARY 3 0864 0015 6879 2 RANCH SIEBEN (Rattlesnake Creek) Conservation Easement RANCH SIEBEN (Mill Creek) Fee Tide Acquisition LYONS CREEK (Sieben and O'Connell Ranches) Conservation Easement A Proposal by & Montana Fish, Wildlife Parks Comment Period On This Proposal Is From June 21 to July 26. Submit Comments To: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks c/o Sieben/O'Connell Ranch Comments 930 Custer Avenue West MT Helena, 59620-0701 Public Hearing: July 16, State Room ofthe Colonial Inn, Helena, 7p.m. ForAdditional Information Contact: Joel Peterson, Region 3 Wildlife Manager, 406-994-4042 Included In This Document: * Draft Environmental Assessments * Management Plans * Socio-Economic Assessments IllmtraltonscourtesyofCreativeReSources.Inc. P.O. Box4HHIfagstaff. AZ86002(520) '~4-2l2-l Wildlife Movement Corridor Through Central Montana Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Division ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SIEBEN RANCH CONSERVATION EASEMENT • Rattlesnake Creek LYONS CREEK CONSERVATION EASEMENT • Sieben Ranch & O'Connell Ranch Properties MILL CREEK FEE TITLE ACQUISITION • Sieben Ranch INTRODUCTION I. The state of Montana has recognized that certain native plant communities constituting wildlife habitat are worthy of perpetual conservation. Those communities include riparian, sagebrush-grassland and intermountain grassland. This proposal involves action on three independent land parcels that warrant such consideration. Although the parcels border each other, the proposal for each parcel stands on its own merits; action on any one parcel is not contingent upon action on one or both of the others. All three parcels provide important wildlife habitat and public hunting access. Moreover, the agency's opportunity to secure permanent habitat protection is limited in time due to the unusual nature of circumstances effecting changes of ranch ownership in the respective families. The first proposal involves property owned by the John Baucus family (Sieben Ranch). A conservation easement was offered to the Montana Department of Fish, V^ildlife and Parks (FWP) by the Baucus family, entitled: Sieben Ranch (Rattlesnake Creek) Conservation Easement This offer reflects the desire to maintain and protect ranching . lifestyles and agricultural production while enhancing wildlife habitats and maintaining hunting opportunities for the public at current levels. It is proposed that a conservation easement, to be held by FWP, be acquired from the Baucus family. This easement would keep the property in private ownership with its agricultural base, while preserving important wildlife habitats in perpetuity. The second proposal involves properties owned by the Baucus family and the O'Connell families (Pat Anderson and Richard O'Connell) in Lyons Creek, that are currently being offered for sale to a third party. At the time these properties are sold, a Conservation Easement will be placed on the entire parcel, to be known as: Lyons Creek Conservation Easement. Lyons Creek is composed of intermountain grasslands, rugged secure timbered terrain, and dozens of tributary streams to Lyons Creek, an important rainbow trout spawning stream. While this parcel is not particularly conducive to agricultural production, a livestock grazing would be allowed at past levels. Important wildlife range as well as public hunting access at current levels would continue to be provided. The third segment of this proposal involves the Sieben Ranch-Mill Creek Fee Title Acquisition that adjoins Helena National Forest lands which extend to Flesher Pass and , beyond. The property is composed of rolling ponderosa pine-douglas fir-grasslands, and the riparian headwaters of three drainages. Important fall and winter range is provided as well as public hunting opportunities. FWP would purchase this parcel, place conservation restrictions on it and then in time, sell or exchange the land to a private entity, with conservation restrictions in place. AUTHORITY AND DIRECTION II. FWP has the authority under law (87-1-201) to protect, enhance and regulate the use of Montana's fish and wildlife resources for public benefit now and in the future. In 1987, the Montana Legislature passed HB526 which earmarked hunting license revenues to secure wildlife habitat through lease, conservation easement, or fee title acquisition (87- 1-241 and 242). This is now referred to as the Habitat Montana Program. As with other FWP property interest proposals, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission and in some cases the State Land Board must approve any acquisition of land proposed by the agency. This Environmental Assessment is part of the decision making process. LOCATION OF PROJECT III. This proposal involves three parcels. The Sieben Ranch-Mill Creek Acquisition joins with the Sieben Ranch (Rattlesnake) Conservation Easement on the east, which joins with the Lyons Creek Conservation Easement on the north (Project Map). Each parcel is being handled independently because of different original and ultimate ownerships, and final disposition. Sieben Ranch (Rattlesnake Creek) Conservation Easement The property is located approximately 22 miles northwest of Helena, east of state highway 279, and 3 miles east of Flesher Pass (Project Map). This 10,867 acre property surrounds all but 300 yards of the 6 mile length of Rattlesnake Creek and its 7 tributary streams; itself a tributary of Canyon Creek. In addition, portions of tributaries to Big Mill Creek, Sawmill Creek, Canyon Creek, Miners Gulch and Big Sheep Creek are involved. It includes the south and east faces of Mitchell Mountain and the summit and west, north and east exposures of Lyons Mountain. Elevation spans 3,200 feet from 4,520 feet near the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek to 7,738 feet at the summit of Lyons Mountain. Access to Rattlesnake Creek exists from State Highway 279, but crosses approximately 14 mile of — oV ir*^4— if—'+ r^c-^+W +xf^! R06W R05W R04W Q lieben Ranch (Rattlesnake Creek) Conservation Easement Sieben Ranch Lyons Creek Conservation Easement t N Sieben Ranch Mill Creek Fee Title Acquisition O'Connell Ranch Lyons Creek Conservation Easement
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