Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks is advancing a second phase of the Upper Thompson Conservation Easement, which aims to restrict development on 13,297 acres of private timberland in northwest Montana. The total project now covers 47,907 acres and would protect wildlife habitat while allowing continued sustainable timber management by Green Diamond Montana Timberlands. The second phase is valued at approximately $17.1 million; with contributions from various sources including the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program and private organizations, FWP anticipates raising about $11.35 million to complete this phase. Public comment on the proposal will be accepted until September 26.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
They have provided habitat for wildlife, working forests for local communities and places where people hunt, hike and explore.
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people → provide → communities
Now, state officials are working to give a large stretch of that landscape permanent protection.
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officials → work → protection
According to Western News and Daily Inter Lake, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has begun the second and final phase of the Upper Thompson Conservation Easement, a project that could ultimately place development restrictions on 47,907 acres of private timberland in the Cabinet Mountains.
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that → accord → Mountains
The first 34,610 acres were secured in July, while another 13,297 acres are now under consideration.
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acres → secure → consideration
The proposed second phase covers timberland in the Little Thompson River, Smiley Creek and Buffalo Bill Creek drainages.
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phase → propose → drainages
Under the agreement, FWP would acquire the development rights from Green Diamond Montana Timberlands, while the company would continue to own and manage the property.
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company → acquire → property
The land would not become a state-owned preserve, and timber operations would not end.
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operations → become → ?
Green Diamond would be able to continue harvesting timber under the terms of the easement, with the area currently producing about 1.6 million board feet of timber each year, according to the state’s environmental assessment.
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area → continue → assessment
What would change is what could happen to the land in the future.
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what → change → future
Development rights would be permanently restricted
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rights → restrict → ?
The proposed easement would prevent Green Diamond and future owners from extensively developing or subdividing the property.
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easement → propose → property
At the same time, it would establish permanent public access for activities including hunting, trapping, hiking and other outdoor recreation.
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it → establish → hunting
That builds on the first phase of the project.
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That → build → project
Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the purchase of the initial 34,610-acre Upper Thompson Conservation Easement in June, and the deal closed in July.
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deal → approve → July
The first phase protects wildlife habitat and landscape connectivity while allowing continued sustainable timber management.
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phase → protect → management
Together, the two phases would create a single 47,907-acre conservation easement across the Upper Thompson River landscape.
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phases → create → landscape
A multimillion-dollar second phase
The second phase has been appraised at approximately $17.1 million.
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phase → appraise → million
Green Diamond has committed nearly $5.75 million in in-kind value, reducing the amount the state and its partners would need to raise to about $11.35 million.
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state → commit → million
Funding is expected to come from a combination of sources, including the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, the Trust for Public Land, Avista, NorthWestern Energy and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust.
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Funding → expect → Land
FWP is expected to contribute about $150,000 from the state conservation trust, according to the latest proposal.
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FWP → expect → proposal
The broader project has taken years to assemble.
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project → take → years
The first phase alone was supported by $13 million from the Forest Legacy Program, along with contributions from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Trust for Public Land and Green Diamond.
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phase → support → Land
Why the landscape matters
The Upper Thompson area forms part of a much larger network of forests and protected lands in northwest Montana.
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area → matter → Montana
The conservation easement is designed to maintain connections between wildlife habitats while keeping the land available as a working forest.
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easement → design → forest
The first phase also secured recreational access that had previously depended on voluntary arrangements.
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that → secure → arrangements
With the easement in place, public access becomes a permanent condition of the protected property rather than something that could potentially change with a future owner.
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that → become → owner
FWP initiated the process on August 28 and is currently seeking public input.
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FWP → initiate → input
A public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on September 23 at Plains High School, while written comments on the proposed acquisition are being accepted until 5 p.m. on September 26.
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comments → schedule → September
If approved and fully funded, the additional 13,297 acres would complete a conservation effort covering nearly 48,000 acres of Montana timberland, protecting its development rights while allowing the forests to remain working landscapes and keeping them open to the public.
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forests → approve → public
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