Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership is made up of conservation groups and timber companies who want to preserve the wildlands in Southwest Montana as well as the way of life for local citizens. Please contact any of the partners for more information on the Partnership Plan.

Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership website

National Wildlife Federation: A fish and wildlife conservation organization founded in 1936 with over 14,000 supporters in Montana.

Montana Trout Unlimited: America’s leading trout and salmon conservation organization. The Montana Council represents 3000 members and 12 chapters.

RY Timber: Manufacturing facilities in Townsend and Livingston produce 16% of all structural lumber manufactured in Montana. Employs over 200 people.

Pyramid Lumber: Family owned and operated lumber mill since 1949, located in Seeley Lake. Employs over 280 full-time and contracted workers.

Smurfit-Stone: In operation since 1957, located in Missoula. Producer of liner board. Employs approximately 500 people.

Sun Mountain Lumber: Solid stud and finger joint mills located in Deerlodge. Employs 220 mill workers and 80 loggers.

Roseburg Forest Products: Particleboard manufacturing facility located in Missoula. Employs over 175 workers.

Montana Wilderness Association Brad Borst, Campaign Director

Editorials
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership has received a great deal of positive press from Montana’s newspapers since its public debut. Editorials in the Missoulian and Montana Standard are two such examples.

Op-eds
Tim Baker, Executive Director, Montana Wilderness Association and Ed Regan, Resource Manager, RY Timber, co-authored an Opinion Editorial, “Breaking Free of Forest Gridlock”, that appeared in newspapers across southwest Montana in 2007.

Letters of Praise
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership is receiving broad public praise from across Montana. Below are some of the voices of praise for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership.

With so many interests in the management of the Beaverhead Deerlodge, it is important that we work together to develop a common sense forest management plan for the Beaverhead Deerlodge. That is why I applaud the “Partners”—Sun Mountain Lumber, Montana Trout Unlimited, Smurfit-Stone, Montana Wilderness Association, RY Timber, the National Wildlife Federation, Pyramid Mountain Lumber and Roseburg Forest Products—for putting their differences aside and working together. -Senator Max Baucus [view the letter]

For over a year I have been following the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership because of my interest in federal land policy. It has been encouraging to see a diverse group of Montanans come to the table to discuss forest use policies. . . The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest is large, and I believe there’s room enough for timber harvest, wilderness, livestock grazing and motorized users. By working together, Montanans can come up with a solution that works for everyone. -Senator Jon Tester [view the letter]

The end product is a public land plan for a working forest that sustains not only the economy and livelihood of the area, but also the world class fishing, hunting and recreational opportunities that now abound. -Governor Brian Schweitzer [view the letter]

I believe the strategy outlined in the Partnership proposal is a significant step forward in forest management, and I strongly urge the Forest Service to fully evaluate this compromise proposal, giving it the attention deserving of such an historic effort. -Secretary of State Brad Johnson [view the letter]

We believe this Agreement advances important initiatives including expanding the suitable timber base, designating appropriate wilderness areas and building a timber program based on stewardship contracting. These initiatives will help local businesses employ local labor even while protecting the fish and wildlife resources of southwestern Montana. -Local Union #28, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America [view the letter]

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has long believed that the key to sustaining the great wildlife populations of the west is through cooperative efforts and strong partnerships. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership exemplifies this philosophy, and through its collective hard work, the Partnership has addressed many of the difficult resource issues facing the Forest Service in southwest Montana. -Peter J. Dart, President and CEO, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation [view the letter]

These and other letters of praise can be found on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership Web site.

Those who have praised the Partnership include:

  • U.S. Senator Max Baucus
  • U.S. Senator Jon Tester
  • Governor Brian Schweitzer
  • Secretary of State Brad Johnson
  • Former Congressman Pat Williams
  • Granite County Commission
  • Butte-Silver Bow Consolidated Government
  • Powell County Commission
  • Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission
  • Broadwater County Commission
  • Lewis and Clark County Commission
  • Missoula County Commission
  • Montana Logging Association
  • Intermountain Forest Association
  • Montana Wildlife Federation
  • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
  • Backcountry Horsemen of Montana
  • Highlands Cycling Club of Butte
  • United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local Union #28
  • Missoulian Editorial Board
  • Montana Standard Editorial Board
  • Helena Independent Record Editorial Board
  • Anaconda-Leader Editorial Board