Testimonials

"We had outstanding grant applications that truly demonstrate the quality and diversity of land trust conservation projects across the state,” said Mike Scholz, owner of Buck’s T-4 Lodge and founder of the Travelers program. “Funds donated by Montana travelers and others are protecting the reasons we live here and why most people travel to Montana – to experience the open lands, view wildlife and recreate on private and public lands."

"These grant awards are impressive accomplishments, considering we’re talking about a new program that was created in a down economy and depends on small donations,” said Stuart Doggett, executive director of the Montana Innkeepers Association. “Travelers has a ways to go to reach its potential, but the grants are proof the program’s off to a great start.”

“The grants demonstrate the potential importance of the Travelers program, and also highlight the need for increased donations through the program,” said Kris Hauck, owner of the El Western Cabins & Lodges in Ennis. “People come to Montana and come to Ennis to enjoy the open lands, and it’s the open lands that will keep bringing people back. Travelers for Open Land is good for the landscape and it’s also good for business.”

“The great thing about Travelers for Open Land is that it gives people an opportunity to help protect what makes Montana such a great place to live in and visit,” said Scholz. “It’s the only statewide program of its type in the nation, it’s completely voluntary and the donations can add up to have a tremendously positive impact.”

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Projects We Fund

Travelers for Open Land Announces Grants To Conservation Ag Lands and Wildlife Habitat

Travelers for Open Land, a statewide private land conservation partnership in Montana created in 2009, is awarding three grants totaling $15,000 to land trusts to help protect important agricultural lands and wildlife habitat in the Bitterroot Valley, along the Flathead River and in the Swan Valley.

Travelers for Open Land, a partnership among the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association, Montana Association of Land Trusts, the Montana Community Foundation, other tourist-related businesses and the traveling public, is the only statewide program if its type in the country. The program seeks donations from travelers in Montana, which are collected by businesses participating in the program and used to fund competitive grants among land trusts for land conservation projects. In 2010, Travelers for Open Land raised $15,000 and on Feb. 3, 2011 awarded three $5,000 grants to The Vital Ground Foundation in Missoula, Flathead Land Trust in Kalispell and the Bitter Root Land Trust in Hamilton.

Three grants, each for $5,000, will help fund permanent conservation easements and are being awarded to:

* Flathead Land Trust in Kalispell, to protect 192 acres of prime agricultural lands on a family farm along the banks of the Flathead River north of Flathead Lake. The project will help protect water quality in the Flathead River system and Flathead Lake, conserve critical habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, and keep prime farmland in production. The project is part of the River to Lake Initiative ongoing in the Flathead and project partners include the American Bird Conservancy, Montana FWP and the Flathead Lakers.

*The Vital Ground Foundation in Missoula, for the Windfall Creek II Conservation Easement, located in the Swan Valley southwest of Condon. Two adjoining parcels totaling 80 acres will be permanently conserved, protecting prime grizzly bear habitat within the Northern Continental Divide grizzly bear recovery ecosystem. In addition to grizzly bear habitat and open lands the conservation easement will protect wetlands and riparian areas on the property.

* Bitter Root Land Trust in Hamilton, to help conserve 353 acres of historic ranchland known as Severson’s Flying E Ranch, located in the Burnt Fork drainage of the Bitterroot Valley. The Flying E Ranch has been in the Severson family for more than a century and is in one of the Bitterroot’s most important agricultural areas. The Burnt Fork drainage was the site of Montana’s first permanently settled agricultural community, which makes the area historically significant as well. The area has retained its rural and agricultural character, and the project enjoys broad support within the area.