TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1.0 THE GROWTH POLICY .......................................................................... 5 1.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 5 1.2 STATEMENT OF INTENT ...................................................................................... 5 1.3 PREPARATION OF THE GROWTH POLICY ......................................................... 5 1.3.1 GETTING STARTED ...................................................................................... 5 1.3.2 IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES, NEEDS AND PREFERENCES .................................. 5 1.3.3 POLICY DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................. 6 1.4 GROWTH POLICY ADMINISTRATION ............................................................... 6 1.4.1 IMPLEMENTATION ....................................................................................... 6 1.4.2 CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH POLICY REVISIONS ............................................... 6 1.4.3 TIMETABLE FOR REVIEW .............................................................................. 6 1.4.4 COORDINATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ............................... 7 1.4.5 CITY-COUNTY PLANNING BOARD JURISDICTION ............................................. 4 CHAPTER 2.0 COUNTY HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION ................................................ 9 2.1 COUNTY HISTORY .............................................................................................. 9 2.2 AREA DESCRIPTIONS ........................................................................................ 12 2.2.1 SOUTHEAST .............................................................................................. 12 2.2.2 GREYCLIFF ................................................................................................ 13 2.2.3 YELLOWSTONE VALLEY WEST ...................................................................... 13 2.2.4 YELLOWSTONE VALLEY EAST ....................................................................... 14 2.2.5 THE CRAZY MOUNTAINS ............................................................................ 14 2.2.6 MELVILLE ................................................................................................. 15 2.2.7 NORTHEAST PLANNING AREA ..................................................................... 15 2.2.8 LOWER BOULDER RIVER ............................................................................. 16 2.2.9 MCLEOD ................................................................................................... 17 2.2.10 UPPER BOULDER VALLEY ............................................................................ 17 CHAPTER 3.0 - EXISTING CONDITIONS AND PROJECTED TRENDS ......................... 19 3.1 LAND USE ........................................................................................................... 19 3.1.1 CURRENT LAND OWNERSHIP ...................................................................... 19 3.1.2 CURRENT LAND CLASSIFICATION ................................................................ 19 3.1.3 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS/ZONING DISTRICTS ......................................... 19 3.1.4 COUNTY SUBDIVISIONS ............................................................................. 22 3.1.5 PROJECTED LAND USE TRENDS ................................................................... 22 3.2 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE ................................................................................. 24 3.2.1 CURRENT POPULATION .............................................................................. 24 3.2.2 PROJECTED POPULATION TRENDS ............................................................... 26 3.3 ECONOMIC PROFILE ............................................................................................... 22 3.3.1 PERSONAL INCOME .................................................................................... 28 3.3.2 LABOR FORCE ........................................................................................... 30 3.3.3 PROJECTED ECONOMIC TRENDS ................................................................. 31 Sweet Grass County 2014-2020 Growth Policy 1 3.4 HOUSING NEEDS ................................................................................................ 33 3.4.1 CURRENT CONDITIONS ............................................................................. 33 3.4.2 PROJECTED TRENDS FOR HOUSING NEEDS .................................................. 33 3.5 LOCAL SERVICES ................................................................................................ 34 3.5.1 COUNTY SERVICES .................................................................................... 34 3.5.2 STATE OFFICES .......................................................................................... 39 3.5.3 FEDERAL OFFICES ...................................................................................... 40 3.5.4 PRIVATE UTILITIES .................................................................................... 41 3.5.5 PROJECTED TRENDS FOR LOCAL SERVICES ................................................... 41 3.6 TRANSPORTATION ........................................................................................... 41 3.6.1 COUNTY ROADS ........................................................................................ 41 3.6.2 STATE ROADS ........................................................................................... 44 3.6.3 INTERSTATE 90 ......................................................................................... 45 3.6.4 BRIDGES .................................................................................................. 45 3.6.5 ACCIDENT DATA ....................................................................................... 48 3.6.6 RAIL SERVICE ............................................................................................ 48 3.6.7 AIRPORT .................................................................................................. 48 3.6.8 FOREST SERVICE ROADS AND TRAILS ........................................................... 48 3.6.9 PROJECTED TRENDS FOR TRANSPORTATION ................................................ 49 3.7 COUNTY FACILITIES .......................................................................................... 49 3.7.1 BUILDINGS ............................................................................................... 49 3.7.2 COMMUNITY MEETING FACILITIES .............................................................. 50 3.7.3 FUTURE NEEDS ......................................................................................... 51 3.8 PUBLIC SCHOOLS .............................................................................................. 51 3.8.1 SWEET GRASS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ......................................................... 51 3.8.2 BIG TIMBER GRADE SCHOOL – DISTRICT 1 ................................................... 52 3.8.3 GREYCLIFF GRADE SCHOOL – DISTRICT 16 ................................................... 52 3.8.4 MCLEOD GRADE SCHOOL – DISTRICT 29 ...................................................... 52 3.8.5 MELVILLE GRADE SCHOOL – DISTRICT 5 ...................................................... 53 3.9 SOILS, GEOLOGY, VEGETATION AND NATURAL HAZARDS ........................... 55 3.9.1 SOIL ......................................................................................................... 55 3.9.2 PRIME FARMLAND SOIL .............................................................................. 56 3.9.3 GEOLOGY ................................................................................................. 57 3.9.4 VEGETATION ............................................................................................ 55 3.9.5 NOXIOUS WEEDS ...................................................................................... 57 3.9.6 NATURAL HAZARDS ................................................................................... 61 3.10 NATURAL RESOURCES ................................................................................... 63 3.11 SURFACE WATER RESCOURCES .................................................................... 64 3.12 GROUNDWATER ............................................................................................ 70 3.13 IRRIGATION FACILITIES ............................................................................... 69 3.14 TIMBER ........................................................................................................... 69 3.15 OIL, GAS AND MINERALS .............................................................................. 69 Sweet Grass County 2014-2020 Growth Policy 2 3.16 WIND ............................................................................................................... 69 3.17 WILDLIFE ........................................................................................................ 70 3.18 RECREATION SITES AND FACILITIES ............................................................ 72 3.19 PROJECTED TRENDS FOR NATURAL RESOURCES ....................................... 76 CHAPTER 4.0 - COUNTY GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES ................................................................................................................. 83 4.1 GENERAL ...........................................................................................................