What It Means to Keep It Wild from the Board President

WINTER 2021

WHAT IT MEANS TO KEEP IT WILD FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

Montana Wilderness Association works with communities MY MONTANA IS WILD MONTANA to protect Montana’s wilderness heritage, quiet beauty, and outdoor traditions, now and for future generations. When I came to Montana in 1979, I arrived with not much more than a good friend, a backpack, and a memory: my family had camped in Glacier National Park BOARD OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS when I was 10 years old. The park’s tall peaks and crystalline Debo Powers, Polebridge Addrien Marx, Seeley Lake Larry Epstein, Essex Mark Connell, Missoula President Immediate Past President Treasurer Camille Consolvo, Great Falls waters were forever etched in my mind. I had to go back. It can be hard Jeanette Hall, Bozeman work to fight for Tim Lynch, Helena Patti Steinmuller, Bozeman Nora Hohenlohe, Missoula My friend and I pulled into the Polebridge Merc on a hot President-elect Secretary John Larson, Kalispell what you love. Andrew McKean, Glasgow day in July. Little did I know I’d still be here 40 years later,

HELENA OFFICE fighting for conservation from the solar cabin that took years to build. 80 S. Warren St. Laura Parr, Ext. 110 Bob Ronan , Ext. 101 Keely Damara, Ext. 112 It all started innocently enough. First I’d come for the summers, hiking and Helena, MT 59601 Operations Director Database Manager Communications Manager [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] backpacking every chance I got. North Fork legend John Frederick led me on 406-443-7350 Carl Deitchman, 406-422-3008 Kassia Randzio , Ext. 103 Darlene Hill, Ext. 111 my first Wilderness Walk into the Whitefish Range in the early 1980s, and I joined Ben Gabriel, Ext. 104 Senior Accountant Interim Development Director Executive Assistant as an MWA member on the spot. I was hooked. Years later I’d lead Wilderness Executive Director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Walks myself, introducing friends and friends-to-be to the places I love.

FIELD STAFF CHAPTERS And for the last decade since retiring fulltime to the North Fork, I’ve dedicated my time and energy to the wild – not simply getting outdoors, but as a To reach field staff by phone, BOZEMAN WHITEFISH Eastern Wildlands Chapter dial 406-443-7350 , plus their [email protected] grassroots champion for the wild. I participated in our local Whitefish Range extension. John Todd , Ext. 107 Matt Bowser, Ext. 120 Deputy Director Stewardship Director Flathead-Kootenai Chapter Partnership, and after 13 months of talking and listening, stakeholders MISSOULA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] unanimously agreed to new conservation protections. The result? About Kayje Booker, Ext. 106 Ted Brewer, Ext. 108 Sonny Mazzullo, Ext. 121 Southwestern Wildlands Chapter 80,000 acres of Recommended Wilderness in my beloved Whitefish Range. Advocacy and Communications Director Stewardship Manager [email protected] Engagement Director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Island Range Chapter It’s easy to fall in love with Montana, but it can be hard work to fight for what Noah Marion, Ext. 119 Allie Maloney, Ext. 116 [email protected] you love. Jacob Foster, Ext. 102 State Policy Director Northwest Montana Madison-Gallatin Chapter Development Manager [email protected] Field Director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] I’m proud to continue the fight as President of MWA’s board of directors. This is Emily Cleveland, Ext. 114 Shining Mountains Chapter Erin Clark, Ext. 117 Conservation Director BILLINGS [email protected] an exciting era, with new opportunities at the national level, and new paths Western Montana [email protected] forward for state land conservation. Yes, there are unknowns ahead. But what Field Director Aubrey Bertram, Ext. 115 Wild Divide Chapter [email protected] Alex Blackmer, Ext. 109 Eastern Montana Field Director [email protected] I know is this: Communications Manager [email protected] Kate Geranios, Ext. 105 [email protected] Development Manager Wildlands are more important today than they were when my diesel Rabbit [email protected] GREAT FALLS rolled into town in 1979. There are more roads and more people impacting Zach Angstead, Ext. 118 wild places and the wildlife that depend upon them. Our growing communities Central Montana Field Director [email protected] have greater demand for clean water, outdoor recreation, and the solitude of wilderness.

Wild Montana is a publication of Montana Wilderness Association. There’s work to be done. Huge swaths of Montana’s grasslands and forests, Excerpts may be reprinted with permission. high peaks and deep canyons aren’t yet protected. Many areas that are Design and layout: Real World Design. Wild Montana is printed WINTER 2021 on recycled paper. protected are isolated, and plants and animals need better connectivity WHAT IT MEANS 4 from one island to the next, especially in the face of a changing climate. Montana Wilderness Association is a proud member of TO KEEP IT WILD Montana Shares and sends a huge thanks to everyone who A glimpse into the science To achieve our vision of protecting wild Montana, we’re going to need contributes to MWA through workplace giving. Montana Shares behind wild Montana provides MWA with a reliable and consistent source of income every tool in our toolbox, and some new tools we haven’t come up with yet. from participants in workplace giving campaigns. We’re going to need to welcome more people into our movement, building WOLVERINES AND Montana Shares, PO Box 883, Helena, MT 59624 8 WILDERNESS an increasingly inclusive and adaptive approach to conservation. 800-823-2625 • [email protected] www.montanashares.org Montana’s first wilderness area in nearly 40 years is within view Thank you, as members, for your enduring commitment to wildlands, and for joining in this journey together. MWA has earned Charity Navigator’s highest UPDATES FROM 12 possible rating, outperforming 94% of charities THE FIELD in America. The latest from MWA’s on-the- Keep it wild! ground work around the state –Debo Powers wildmontana.org On the cover: Elk in winter. facebook.com/wildmontana Photo by Carol Fowler instagram.com/wildmt 2 y r r i h W

n o d r o G WILDNESS l u a S

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y e s k t i e M B UNIQUENESS KEEP IT W ILD! Hiking along the Rocky Mountain Front. Photos on this page are some of the hundreds submitted to our Picture Wild Montana contest. See the winners at wildmontana.org/photocontest.

How can we ensure the “Mommy, where do you work?” She’s wondered at the way stars what it looks like when our work mysteriously multiply with each step to keep it wild is successful. The full richness of Montana’s “Montana Wilderness Association.” away from a campfire. She’s the first near unanimous response? Free landscapes – mountains, to notice the loon’s evening call. from development, thriving wildlife, waterways, grasslands, She carefully repeated back all 11 She knows wild. and some unnamed essence of syllables, stumbling as she tested out wildness, perhaps freedom. and badlands – are each sound in her small 4-year-old But how does wild, so vividly felt by Conversations ranged from praise forever wild? voice. Then proudly, confidently, easy hearts young and old, translate into for the wild places Montana enjoys on the tongue: “Keep it wild!” on-the-ground work to keep it wild? today – alpine lakes, deep forests, and unbroken prairies – to concern Despite stumbling through “wil-der- Over the course of a year, our staff for the future: What will wildlife ness” and, even harder, “as-so-ci-a- sat down with people in the MWA need to adapt to a changing tion,” she knows the feeling of the wild community – including volunteers, climate? forwards and backwards. She knows staff and partners – and asked them continued the cozy warmth of a sleeping bag. what “Keep it wild!” means and

4 WILD MONTANA WINTER 2021 5 How can we ensure the full richness decade that will be even hotter yet, of Montana’s landscapes – mountains, we know wildlife will need to adapt. waterways, grasslands, and badlands Many may go up in elevation, but – are forever wild? mountains are only so high. Plants and animals will also need to go up in To help answer these questions, we latitude, so we identified CLIMATE turned to some of conservationists’ PATHWAYS: The most likely routes dearest friends: sound science and wildlife could take to find suitable good maps. habitat in a changing climate.

First, we put words to the definitions Finally, where does Montana fit in we know in our hearts, beginning with nationally? When the Wilderness

The science is just one piece d

WILDNESS: Places that have high Act passed in 1964, it ushered in d o T of the conservation puzzle.

ecological integrity, and minimal protections for mountains and forests, n h o

human modifications like roads, yet overlooked colorful buttes, bone- We also must take into account J buildings, and other development. dry badlands, and high plains. And and attend to the complex web still today, aside from a handful of of human values and history Signs of past use within the ancestral We also evaluated SPECIES National Monuments, Wildlife that overlays these landscapes. homelands of the Northern Cheyenne, INTACTNESS: Places still home to Refuges, and Wilderness Study Areas, Crow, Metis, and Blackfoot. animals like lynx, wolverine, and public lands east of the Rockies are ´ black-footed ferrets. largely unprotected. We’re calling this UNIQUENESS: A measure of on the horizon. In far Northwest established recreation, and resource But many species can’t thrive on how future protections could truly Montana, the Kootenai is off the extraction. And each place and each a scattering of wild islands. represent all landscapes. charts for species intactness, but is community calls for different tools – Pronghorns and wolverines, grizzly largely unprotected. from Wilderness to Conservation bears and sage grouse, all need We partnered with ecologists and a Management Areas to Wildlife CONNECTIVITY: Routes from one cartographer to leverage best available And in far eastern Montana, there Refuges – to generate the public protected area to the next, allowing science, mapping these values on are incredibly unique areas with no support to enact forever wild plant and animal communities to the land. Grounded in science, this protections at all, spurring work to policies. move in response to stressors and data helps inform our work in new reform oil and gas leasing (see changing conditions. landscapes and in new ways. Updates, p. 13). The Continental The reality is that no matter the Divide is a critical climate pathway, conservation tool used, protecting And on the heels of the hottest We’re already headed in the right but it’s entirely unprotected south of all we love about the wild takes decade on earth, heading into a direction, with new opportunities the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat people – a movement of thousands Wilderness. We’re working with speaking up for plants and wildlife, people in and around Lincoln, MT, for thriving communities and healthy to extend this critical corridor waterways. It’s up to each of us to (see p. 8 for more). broaden that movement: Welcome new voices and new perspectives to Of course, the science is just one the table, invite your friends and piece – albeit a critical piece – of the neighbors to join in the movement conservation puzzle. In addition to for a wilder Montana. the ecology, we also must take into account and attend to the complex We’re doubling down on our web of human values and history commitment to wild Montana, that overlays these landscapes, as and we’ll need your support, your well as social and political pressures. voice, and your commitment as We can’t protect the natural we build the strongest wildlands What will wildlife landscape without also taking into movement Montana has known. like this Canada lynx account the human landscape: need to adapt to community drinking water supplies, –Kassia Randzio, interim a changing climate? Indigenous cultures and history, development director

6 WILD MONTANA WINTER 2021 7 “Wolverines.” That single word 11 different carnivore species inhabit 25 miles northwest of Helena as the on draft management plans – we was about all it took to entice more the area, including wolverine, grey crow flies. We were interested to were able to convince the Forest than 100 Helenans to spend a wolf, Canada lynx, bobcat, red fox, know what species were using this Service that Nevada Mountain Friday evening learning about pine marten, mountain lion, and area, given its close proximity to the deserved to be recommended as a these magnificent carnivores. grizzly bears. Crown of Continent, a vast and wild wilderness area. The agency made region in northern Montana that that recommendation in the final The following day, several dozen of And in the coming years, we’re encompasses Glacier National Park draft of Helena-Lewis and Clark those attendees volunteered to spend hoping to add one more reward for and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Forest plan revision, which should a bluebird sky Saturday wading their determination – Montana’s Complex. be finalized this summer. through feet of snow and scouring first new Wilderness area in the land for tracks and signs. And nearly 40 years. Back then, the findings were cause That recommendation now gives what did they find? Mostly deer. for elation. Today, they’re grounds heft to a proposal to protect Nevada This 2014 and 2015 volunteer study, for a new wilderness proposal. Mountain as the first designated But the committed few who co-organized by Montana Wilderness wilderness area Montana has had persevered through additional Association, gathered on-the-ground With that study – along with in nearly 40 years. By permanently frostbite cold mornings and days insights to document exactly which hundreds of Montana Wilderness protecting Nevada Mountain of winter tracking were rewarded animals made their home on and Association members speaking-up in from any kind of development (as for their efforts: they confirmed around Nevada Mountain, just public meetings and via comments wilderness designation would do) continued

8 WILD MONTANA WINTER 2021 9 we can ensure that the carnivores planned spaghetti bowl of logging identified by volunteers years ago, as roads and led a citizen-movement to well as elk and other big game, will permanently protect the area, now continue to have the space and the Scapegoat Wilderness. connectivity they need to flourish. The Lincoln Prosperity Proposal The Lincoln The proposal to make Nevada would designate a new wilderness in Prosperity Mountain a designated wilderness the Nevada Mountain area, expand Proposal would area – something for which the Scapegoat Wilderness by 16,000 designate a new conservationists from around the acres, and permanently protect more Wilderness in the Nevada state, including MWA, have than 63,000 acres of Conservation Mountain area, advocated for well over 60 years – Management Areas, a designation just 25 miles comes from the Lincoln Prosperity pioneered by the Rocky Mountain northwest of Group. The project dates back Front Heritage Act. Together, the Helena. to 2015, when a coalition of tapestry of protections would protect conservationists, outfitters, ranchers, a crucial Continental Divide firefighters, business leaders, hunters, migration corridor for wildlife. l l e

and mountain bikers from the h Tracking lynx on c t

a the Continental

Helena and Lincoln area started Running along the spine of the G

n Divide collaborating on a proposal for Rocky Mountains, the Continental h o managing public lands near Lincoln Divide provides vital space and J area and southward along the connections for wildlife to flow Continental Divide. between larger wild regions, such as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, MWA has been a driving force of Central Idaho, and the Crown of the as plants and animals adapt to a or relocate to, neighboring the coalition since the beginning, Continent. That kind of connectivity changing climate. That’s why MWA communities like Helena and Lincoln, allowing us to build on the legacy is key to the long-term survival of has worked for decades to protect and a draw for area businesses to of wilderness protection that goes many species, especially grizzly wildlands along the Montana portion recruit and retain a talented work back to legendary conservationist bears and wolverines, and will of the Continental Divide from roads, force attracted to the wildness that and former MWA president, become even more important motor vehicle traffic, and energy makes Montana so extraordinary. Cecil Garland, a store owner development. who saved his beloved Thanks to generations of wildlands north of Nearly visible from MWA’s main advocates who came before us, Lincoln from a office in Helena, the proposed and the volunteers who dedicated 40,000-acre Nevada Mountain countless hours searching for Wilderness Area would be the wolverine tracks, Montana’s capital second designated wilderness in has the chance to get behind the Helena’s backyard (in addition to the Nevada Mountain Wilderness 29,000-acre Gates of the Mountains proposal – a chance to Wilderness). ensure Montana at its wildest will remain Already, Nevada Mountain is a key at its doorstep. part of Helenans’ wild backyard, close enough to access on a day hike. It –Zach Angstead, will further enrich local communities central Montana when permanently protected as a field director wilderness area, joining Gates of the Mountains as another source of pride for residents – a powerful incentive l l

e To learn more about the h for entrepreneurs to open shop in, c t

a Lincoln Prosperity Proposal G

Wolverine hind paw track, h and to become a supporter, o actual size J visit lincolnprosperity.com.

10 WILD MONTANA WINTER 2021 11 JOIN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTION TEAM

FROM THE FIELD The 2021 Montana Legislature looks a little bit redirect vital conservation funding from important UPDATES different, but one thing hasn’t changed: your voice projects. Legislators are eager to take advantage of is still a crucial part of making sure legislators this window to pass laws that could cripple access, protect our wild public lands. As we get closer to cost Montanans jobs, and weaken the safeguards the business end of the session, chances to speak that protect our public lands, and we’re all going to up are going to come fast and furious, and the need to work together to hold the line. best way to stay in the loop is by joining our We’re standing ready to stop these efforts in State Legislative Action Team. their tracks, but we won’t be able to do it without Join the Action Team and you’ll receive your help. For decades, we’ve been strongest when occasional text messages with information about we’ve joined voices to speak up for the places that how you can act to defend the wild places you love. can’t speak for themselves, and 2021 is no Better yet, you’ll only get messages when YOUR different. Thanks for being a committed lawmakers are in a position to make change, so advocate for wild public lands and you’ll only hear from us when your voice will be for standing strong alongside us needed most. in this important moment. And it will be needed. Lawmakers have already To join the Legislative tried to push through dangerous and deceptive bills Action Team, visit to lay the groundwork for land transfer, remove wildmontana.org/join. protections from wilderness study areas, and – Noah Marion, state policy director

IN PRAISE OF THE PAUSE Our broken oil and gas leasing system has not acre – a rate that hasn’t been updated since 1987. been updated in decades, and it’s depriving us Many leases not bid on were sold noncompetitively of what we need to protect public lands from for $1.50 an acre. In fiscal year 2018 alone, the mismanagement and neglect. BLM leased more than 262,000 acres of public That’s why we applauded the executive order lands in Montana for that absurd amount. that President Biden signed in late January, Though these leases serve no public good, the pausing all oil and gas leasing on public lands. BLM has little choice but to sink taxpayer money This will give the new administration and Congress into processing and administering them. That’s time to enact new policy and pass laws that will government spending that could go towards FIGHTING BACK AGAINST HELICOPTERS IN THE CENTENNIALS reform the country’s oil and gas leasing system improving wildlife habitat, monitoring water and steer management of public lands towards quality, and maintaining and building trails, Mt. Jefferson Deep in southwestern Montana, the Yellowstone Ecosystem in the winter bolstering conservation. trailheads, fishing access sites, boat ramps, and in the Centennial Mountains Wilderness Study Area and have a negative impact on denning Currently, nearly 60% of all of all oil and gas other infrastructure that improves access and Centennials is a critical habitat for moose, elk, deer, grizzly bears. leases in Montana, covering about 1 million acres supports our outdoor recreation economy. wolverine, grizzly bears, and wolves. It’s not a Since we first heard about this proposal of public lands, are not being used. That’s primarily Montana is ground zero for a terrible national place that should be the home of a helicopter back in January, many incredible grassroots because there is very little oil and gas potential on oil and gas leasing system, and MWA has been skiing operation. advocates – people just like you – have public lands in Montana. Case in point: there at the forefront to reform that system. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what some spoken up on behalf of the wolverines, currently isn’t a single operating oil rig in the state. If you’d like to know more about interests are proposing. wolves, and grizzlies that would be affected But that low potential hasn’t stopped the BLM and join our effort to reform it, The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is by heliskiing. All told, nearly 300 MWA from selling out our public lands to wildcat feel free to email me at considering granting a temporary permit for supporters contacted the Caribou-Targhee speculators. During the Trump administration, the [email protected]. heli skiing in the Centennials in winter of National Forest to explain why a commercial BLM offered up more than 442,000 acres of public 2021, with a view towards establishing a heli-skiing operation, on top of the existing lands in Montana for oil and gas development. – Aubrey Bertram, eastern permanent operation. While this would be a problems with illegal snowmobile use around Thirty percent of the leases the BLM auctioned off Montana field director boon for wealthy recreationists, it could be Mount Jefferson, would be imprudent for during that time went for the minimum bid of $2 an catastrophic for the sensitive wildlife that call the Centennials. the range home and human-powered users Once again, MWA members and who treasure the wildness and solitude of supporters rose to the occasion. Now it’s up the Centennials. to the Forest Service to do the right thing and Helicopters would significantly keep helicopters out of this special area for NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE CONSERVATION disrupt the wild character in the good. We’re expecting a decision later this We’re honored to have been selected as one of work in partnership with Montana tribes, and Centennials, part of which is also winter, and we’ll be sure to let you know the just 18 organizations nationwide to receive grants improve organizational infrastructure. This new recommended Wilderness. It next steps as soon as we do. from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to funding and national recognition is a testament to could displace the wolverines support diversity, equity, and inclusion capacity the work we’ve done to date and our demonstrated who range across the Greater – Emily Cleveland, conservation director building. Funds will help train staff and volunteer commitment to working towards a more inclusive leaders, support opportunities to learn from and and equitable conservation movement.

12 WILD MONTANA WINTER 2021 13 DONOR PROFILE Jean & David WILDERNESS WALKS Schmidt We2 look forward to0 continuing Mo21ntana Wilderness Association’s She was from Anaconda. He was from best loved program this summer, hosting more than 70 hikes Great Falls. She was an art teacher. in July, August, and September, with a few adjustments: He was an electrical engineer.

They loved fly fishing, travel, and food, Preventative Covid-19 protocols will be in place to y l

a 1 keep participants safe recreating outdoors. pop-up books and quirky souvenirs. e H

c i r But most of all, they loved Montana. E Details for all walks and sign-up instructions will be 2 in our Discover Wild Montana publication, mailed to When Jean and David retired to members in early June. Arizona in the 1980s, it had been most of a lifetime since they lived in the Big Sky State. They’d come visit Wilderness Walk registration will open for members whenever they could, but never often enough. 3 in June.

When David passed away, Jean made the trip up alone, and said her goodbyes from a favorite fishing hole along the Blackfoot River. And not long after that, she joined Montana Wilderness Association as a member, with just $20. Only members get our Discover Wild Montana book and early Wilderness Walks sign-ups. And she made plans to include Montana Wilderness Association in her will, leaving a lasting legacy for Montana. She wanted to make sure the Double-check your membership expiration date above Montana they knew and loved, complete with free flowing rivers and big your address on this newsletter. If your membership expires open spaces, rich with wildlife and vast vistas, will be passed down to before 6/1/2021, renew now at wildmontana.org/renew generations to come. or by returning the envelope in this newsletter. When Jean passed away in 2018, she rejoined David along the Blackfoot River. Their home, coin collection, napkin rings, more than 400 pop-up books, car – a lifetime of places they loved and lived, things they’d collected – were carefully curated and distributed, all to benefit Montana’s history and wildlands.

We’re honored to carry forward our work for wildlands in memory of Jean and David.

TRAIL STEWARDSHIP 2021 Volunteer Trail Wilderness is forever. Crew Projects If you’d like to talk about • Scapegoat how you can have this • Pryors kind of lasting impact • East Pioneers • Continental Divide via a bequest or other Trail planned gift, you can • Cabinets reach interim development • Crazies • Sapphires director Kassia Randzio • Sluice Boxes e

at (406) 830-6035 or u • Snowcrests g a

[email protected]. e Projects are filling fast! Register or join • West Big Hole L

n • Pintlers i the waiting list: wildmontana.org/vtc

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