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Missoula Open Lands Working Group ReportMissoula Open Lands Working Group

July 1, 2006

Executive Summary
Missoula County’s agricultural lands, forests, river corridors, wildlife habitats, and scenic open spaces are experiencing dramatic change as a direct response to widespread development pressure from land subdivision, construction and increased residential housing density. When a critical area is converted to other uses, the county’s landscape is dramatically changed and this change is often irreversible. Many county residents view this land change as a threat to the county’s rural character and unique natural resources. Perhaps equally importantly, it is seen as an impediment to the ongoing productivity of agricultural and forest lands and a threat to the very county characteristics that are valued by all residents. In view of the county’s rapid growth, there is little time left before this development pre-empts the possibility of effectively preserving our open land and county character.

The county’s future landscape legacy depends on the choices rural landowners make today for their lands. These choices rely, at least partly, on the range of options available to these landowners as they implement short- and long-term plans for their property.  To address this important need, the Missoula Board of County Commissioners (BCC) contracted with Five Valleys Land Trust to convene, facilitate, and staff a citizen-driven countywide working group to make recommendations to it concerning open-lands protection. The BCC then appointed eighteen citizen landowners, two from each of nine planning regions, to serve on the Missoula County Open Lands Working Group (Working Group).  This Working Group explored a wide range of tools Missoula County might employ to help private landowners interested in voluntarily conserving their land.  The Group explored other communities’ achievements and, more importantly, listened to Missoula County residents, and then developed recommended conservation mechanisms tailored to the county’s unique conditions and needs. This report is the group’s recommendations to the BCC.

© 2007 Donna Erickson Consulting