Grady Ranches conservation easement :

68 Pages·1997·2.5 MB·English

by  Montana. Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

I
346.0435
F2erce
1997
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(OffiERVATION
A pnipusal ny tne Montana Department oi Fisn, Wildliie & Parks
December 19, 1997
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
MANAGEMENT PLAN
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT st;;te documc:jts collccticd
ft g-«iiL W:, e MONTANA STATE LIBRARY
Ui\ HELEN1A5,15MEO.N6TtAhNAAVE5.9520
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^"cuiiiiu'iil |)c-riiHl Di) this |iriiiu>sal is Iroiii Dcccinhcr 19, 1997 loJanuary20, 1998- Please siiiinii
.dininenls Ic; Mcnlana Deparlmenl oi Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 930 CusterAve. W., Helena, MT 59620
MONTANASTATELIBRARY
LIV, ^3 1998 3 0864 0010 2136 2
J -3 1998
GRADY RANCHES
CONSERVATION EASEMENT
A proposal by Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Included in This Document:
o Draft Environmental Assessment
o Draft Management Plan
o Socio-Economic Assessment
Comment period on this proposal is from December 19, 1997 until January 20, 1998.
Submit Comments to:
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
c/o Grady Ranches Comments
Helena Area Resource Office
930 Custer Ave. W.
MT
Helena, 59620
Public Hearing: January 14, 1998 at 7 p.m. Best Western Colonial Park Hotel, Helena,
MT
For additional information contact:
Joel Peterson, Region 3 Wildlife Manager, [phone]
Michael Korn, Helena Area Coordinator, [phone]

.
TableofContents
INTRODUCTION
I. 1
AUTHORITYAND DIRECTION
II. 1
III. LOCATION OFTHEPROJECT 2
IV. PURPOSE ANDNEED 2
V. DESCRIPTION OFTHEPROPOSEDACTION 3
VI. DESCRIPTION OF REASONABLEALTERNATIVES TOTHEPROPOSEDACTION
5
1 NoActionAlternative 5
2. FeeTitleAcquisitionAlternative 5
3. LeaseAlternative 5
VII. EVALUATION OF IMPACTS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 5
1. Land Resources 5
2. AirResources 6
3. Water Resources 6
4. Vegetation Resources 6
5. Fisli/Wildlife Resources 6
VIII. EVALUATION OF IMPACTS ON THEHUMAN ENVIRONMENT 7
1. Noise/Electrical Effects 7
2. LandUse 7
3. Risk/HealthHazards 7
4. Community Impacts 8
5. Public Services/Taxes/Utilities 8
6. Aesthetics/Recreation 8
7. Cultural/Historic Resources 8
8. Socio-EconomicAssessment 8
IX. SUMMARY EVALUATION OF SIGNIFICANCE 9
X. EVALUATION OFNEED FORAN EIS 9
XL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
9
COMMENTS
9
XII. NAME, TITLEANDPHONENUMBEROFPERSONS RESPONSIBLEFOR
PREPARINGTHEE.A 10
XIII. PERSONS PROVIDINGASSISTANCE INPUTAND/ORREVIEWDURING
PREPARATION OF THEE.A 10
APPENDIXA
APPENDIXB

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Wildlife Division
Draft Environmental Assessment
GRADY RANCHES CONSERVATION EASEMENT
INTRODUCTION
I.
The state ofMontana recognizes thatcertainnativeplantcommunities constituting wildlife habitat
are worthy ofperpetual conservation. These communities include riparian, sagebrush-grassland,
montane forest, and intermountaingrassland. Properties owned by the Grady family include such
habitats and warrant perpetual conservationconsideration. In 1992 the Montana Department of
Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), Grady Ranch Co., Grady Livestock Co., Edward J. Grady,
Eileen L. Grady, Raymond P. Grady, and Patricia Ann Grady (the "Gradys") entered into a
Management Agreementfor a termoffive years. That agreement recognized the importance of
habitatfeamresontheproperty, granted FWPcertainmanagementopportunities, andperpemated
the public recreational opportunities that have beenallowed onthe property. That agreement also
FWP
reflected FWP's interest inobtaining apermanentconservationagreementon the property.
andtheGradys (Grady RanchCo., Grady LivestockCo., EdwardJ. Grady, and EileenL. Grady)
have now reached agreement onthe terms ofaproposed permanent conservation easement. The
terms ofthe proposed conservation easement reflect the Gradys' desire to maintain and protect
their ranching lifestyle and agriculmral production while enhancing wildlife habitats. It is
proposed thata permanent conservationeasementbe purchased by FWP from the Gradys. The
proposed easement will keep the property in private ownership and operation while preserving
importantwildlife habitats and perpemating public recreational oppormnities.
AUTHORITY AND DIRECTION
II.
FWPhastheauthorityunderlaw (87-1-201) toprotect, enhanceandregulatetheuseofMontana's
fish and wildlife resources for public benefit now and in the future. In 1987, the Montana
Legislamre passed HB 526 which earmarked hunting license revenues to secure wildlife habitat
through lease, conservation easement, or fee title acquisition (87-1-241 and 242). This is now
referred to as the Habitat Montana Program. As with other FWP real property proposals, the
Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission and the State Land Board must approve this conservation
easement proposal. This Environmental Assessment is part ofthe decision making process as
directed by the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA).
LOCATION OF THE PROJECT
III.
The property is located approximately 25 miles northwest of Helena, near the community of
CanyonCreek (Figure 1), andconsists ofapproximately 12,900 deeded acres. Most ofthe land
involved is within hunting district 343, west of Lincoln Road (Highway 279). The balance of
the property lies east of Lincoln Road in hunting district 339. The property is bordered by the
Helena National Forestto the west, ChevallierRanch and BLM to the north, SiebenRanch to the
east, and small parcels ofprivate land and Grady Livestock Co. property to the south.
IV. PURPOSE AND NEED
The Grady Ranches on the east slope ofthe Continental Divide encompassing a rich diversity of
timbered and sagebrush/grassland habitats that is home fora wide variety ofwildlife species, and
provides recreational opportunities to the citizens ofHelena and other communities. The Grady
Ranches provide importantaccess for hunting, not only on their private land, but to school trust
land and federal land found within and adjacent to their boundaries. The Grady family allows
hunter access to and through their property. Placement of a conservation easement on this
property would assure that this land stays in a ranching operation, while at the same time
conserving wildlife habitat and providing public recreational use for hunting and fishing.
This property is strategically located adjacent to public land and FWP's Sieben Ranch
conservation easement, thus blocking up significantcritical habitat and movement corridors for
animals along the Continental Divide. (Figure 2) Radiocollar informationhas shownmovements
ofelk from HD 293 and HD 281 and incidental movements from HD 380 to and through the
Grady Ranches. Theopensagebrush/grasslandhabitatprovidescritical winter range forbig game
animals. Conifer cover found on the property is important for thermal and hiding cover. The
Grady Ranches provide important seasonal and year-around habitat for big game species,
predominately muledeerand elk. During the last fiveyears, the Grady Ranches provided habitat
for 18 to 49 percent ofelk and 22 to 76 percent ofmule deer wintering in hunting district 343.
These habitats are utilized by a diverse group ofnongame as well as game species. Big game
species include black bear, elk, mule deer and a limited number of white tailed deer. Other
species include red fox, badger, coyote, fisher, martin, wolverine and an occasional wolfand
lynx. Uplandgamebirds includeruffedgrouse, bluegrouseandanoccasional sharp-tailed grouse
and Hungarianpartridge. Other bird species include long-billed curlew, goshawk, merlin and a
variety ofowls and woodpeckers. Thirty-one species classified as Species ofSpecial Interest or
Concernby the State ofMontana occur in the latilong inclusive ofthe Grady Ranches. Species
classified as sensitive according to the Federal Endangered Species Act, that occur in this area
include the ferruginous hawk, lynx, wolverine, flammulated owl and boreal owl. A list of
potential species using this area is contained in Appendix A.
In recent years, there have been numerous sales of small tracts for rural residential use in the
Canyon Creek area. Much ofthe Grady Ranch has high rural residential subdivision potential, #
FIGURE
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