New Public Lands on the Lower Yellowstone?

Update: Wednesday, September 6

We’re on to round two! The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission is accepting public comment on the proposed North Wildcat Coulee Wildlife Management Area until September 19. The commission will review the comments before it makes a final decision about approving the acquisition at its next meeting in October, and a favorable vote will advance the proposal to the State Land Board for final approval. Hundreds of you showed your support during the previous comment period, and I’d ask you to step up once again on behalf of Montana’s public lands.

To submit your comment, head over to the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s website and select “Wildcat Bend Acquisition” from the dropdown menu. Provide your information and a brief supportive comment in the appropriate fields and click or tap the “Done” button to submit.

Submit Your Comment Here

Original post: Friday, August 18

After years of hard work, we’re making major progress towards new public lands along the Lower Yellowstone River.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is proposing buying a new public parcel along the river east of Forsyth, and right now is your chance to show your support.

The proposed Wildcat Wildlife Management Area will conserve 328 acres of prime riparian habitat along 2.2 miles of the lower Yellowstone. The area’s largely composed of cottonwood trees, willows, and native grasses, and it’s home to a variety of animals like white-tailed deer, ring-necked pheasants, and sharp-tailed grouse. The property also has the potential to provide a home to species of concern, including great blue herons and black-tailed prairie dogs.

The proposed property would also provide boat-in and walk-in access for anglers, floaters, hunters, hikers, and wildlife watchers.

A Collaborative Effort

The parcel is one of those recommended by the Lower Yellowstone River Corridor Advisory Committee, which was created during the summer of 2021 to shape opportunities for habitat conservation, public access, and beneficial community projects along the river. That group, in turn, was a result of the vision developed by the Lower Yellowstone River Coalition, a collection of community leaders, business organizations, economic development experts, and conservation groups dedicated to supporting a high quality of life and conserving important habitat in Eastern Montana.

We’re proud to be a founding member of the Lower Yellowstone River Coalition, and thrilled that our hard work has led to this unique opportunity to protect habitat and support strong communities in eastern Montana. Currently, nearly 30 city councils, county commissions, economic development organizations, and non-profit organizations have endorsed the Lower Yellowstone River Coalition, and several state lawmakers have also expressed their strong support.

The Road Ahead

Of course, the Wildcat WMA still has a long road ahead of it. Following the public comment period, the Fish and Wildlife Commission must approve the purchase, after which the Montana Land Board – some members of which are openly hostile to public lands – must vote on it. The more support we can demonstrate for the purchase now, the easier it will be to clear all the hurdles in front of us.

One interesting note: the state funds for this purchase come from our hard work in the 2021 legislative session to secure $4 million for habitat protection and public access on the lower Yellowstone. This project is an example of why fighting for public lands funding is so important, and it showcases why we’re so proud of all the work we’ve done to secure millions of dollars to support our public lands. 

Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ goal is to purchase the Wildcat WMA by the end of this year, so let’s do our part to keep this train moving by making it clear that Montanans support new public lands