MONTANA
Blackfoot River Special Resource Management Area

The Blackfoot River, immortalized in Norman Maclean's "A River Runs Through It," is a world famous native trout fishery that provides habitat for west-slope cutthroat trout and bull trout. The Ovando Valley, through which the Blackfoot flows, is at the southern edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, a region that supports the largest population of grizzly bears and densest populations of Canada lynx in the lower forty-eight states. Wolves frequent the area on a regular basis, and large herds of elk roam the numerous meadows and grasslands in the valley.

LWCF funding was crucial to acquire lands in the Blackfoot Valley. Almost $40 million in LWCF funding was invested to protect critical wildlife habitat for grizzly bears, wolves, elk and threatened trout species. Public land acquisition in the Blackfoot also ensures continued public access for recreation, grazing, and timber harvest. In addition, conservation easements in the Blackfoot Valley help to maintain a rural agricultural economy while protecting important natural resource values. The Blackfoot Valley project exemplifies a community-based vision where LWCF investment protected critical habitat and enhanced a locally driven conservation plan.