Sieben Ranch (Rattlesnake Creek) conservation easement, Sieben Ranch (Mill Creek) fee title acquisition, Lyons Creek (Sieben and O'Connell Ranches) conservation easement : proposal by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

76 Pages·1996·2.1 MB·English

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

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STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION
1)1
MAR
1 2 2001
Rattlesnake Creek
MONTANA STATE LIBRARY
1515 E. 6th AVE.
HELENA, MONTANA 59620 Conservation Easement
Mill Creek
Acquisition
Conservation Easement
• Environmental Assessments
• Management Plans
• Socio-Economic Assessments
A Proposal by the Montana Department
of Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Comment Period OnThis Proposal Is FromJune 21 toJuly 26.
Submit CommentsTo:
Montana Department Fish, Wildhfe & Paries
c/oSieben/O'Connell Ranch Comments
930CusterAvenue West
Helena, MT 59520-0701
^ Public hearingJuly 16, 1996 inthe
i"^vtv-- State Room, Colonial Inn, Helenaat 7p.m.
For Additional InformationContact:
Joel Peterson, Region 3 Wildlife Manager
|406) 994-4042
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MONTANASTATELIBRARY
3 0864 0015 6879 2
RANCH
SIEBEN
(Rattlesnake Creek)
Conservation Easement
RANCH
SIEBEN
(Mill Creek)
Fee Tide Acquisition
LYONS CREEK
(Sieben and O'Connell Ranches)
Conservation Easement
A Proposal by
&
Montana Fish, Wildlife Parks
Comment Period On This Proposal Is From June 21 to July 26. Submit Comments To:
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
c/o Sieben/O'Connell Ranch Comments
930 Custer Avenue West
MT
Helena, 59620-0701
Public Hearing: July 16, State Room ofthe Colonial Inn, Helena, 7p.m.
ForAdditional Information Contact:
Joel Peterson, Region 3 Wildlife Manager, 406-994-4042
Included In This Document:
* Draft Environmental Assessments
* Management Plans
* Socio-Economic Assessments
IllmtraltonscourtesyofCreativeReSources.Inc.
P.O. Box4HHIfagstaff. AZ86002(520) '~4-2l2-l

Wildlife Movement Corridor Through Central Montana

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Wildlife Division
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
SIEBEN RANCH CONSERVATION EASEMENT • Rattlesnake Creek
LYONS CREEK CONSERVATION EASEMENT • Sieben Ranch & O'Connell Ranch
Properties
MILL CREEK FEE TITLE ACQUISITION • Sieben Ranch
INTRODUCTION
I.
The state of Montana has recognized that certain native plant communities constituting
wildlife habitat are worthy of perpetual conservation. Those communities include
riparian, sagebrush-grassland and intermountain grassland.
This proposal involves action on three independent land parcels that warrant such
consideration. Although the parcels border each other, the proposal for each parcel
stands on its own merits; action on any one parcel is not contingent upon action on one
or both of the others. All three parcels provide important wildlife habitat and public
hunting access. Moreover, the agency's opportunity to secure permanent habitat
protection is limited in time due to the unusual nature of circumstances effecting changes
of ranch ownership in the respective families.
The first proposal involves property owned by the John Baucus family (Sieben Ranch). A
conservation easement was offered to the Montana Department of Fish, V^ildlife and
Parks (FWP) by the Baucus family, entitled: Sieben Ranch (Rattlesnake Creek)
Conservation Easement This offer reflects the desire to maintain and protect ranching
.
lifestyles and agricultural production while enhancing wildlife habitats and maintaining
hunting opportunities for the public at current levels. It is proposed that a conservation
easement, to be held by FWP, be acquired from the Baucus family. This easement
would keep the property in private ownership with its agricultural base, while preserving
important wildlife habitats in perpetuity.
The second proposal involves properties owned by the Baucus family and the O'Connell
families (Pat Anderson and Richard O'Connell) in Lyons Creek, that are currently being
offered for sale to a third party. At the time these properties are sold, a Conservation
Easement will be placed on the entire parcel, to be known as: Lyons Creek Conservation
Easement. Lyons Creek is composed of intermountain grasslands, rugged secure
timbered terrain, and dozens of tributary streams to Lyons Creek, an important rainbow
trout spawning stream. While this parcel is not particularly conducive to agricultural
production, a livestock grazing would be allowed at past levels. Important wildlife range
as well as public hunting access at current levels would continue to be provided.
The third segment of this proposal involves the Sieben Ranch-Mill Creek Fee Title
Acquisition that adjoins Helena National Forest lands which extend to Flesher Pass and
,
beyond. The property is composed of rolling ponderosa pine-douglas fir-grasslands, and
the riparian headwaters of three drainages. Important fall and winter range is provided
as well as public hunting opportunities. FWP would purchase this parcel, place
conservation restrictions on it and then in time, sell or exchange the land to a private
entity, with conservation restrictions in place.
AUTHORITY AND DIRECTION
II.
FWP has the authority under law (87-1-201) to protect, enhance and regulate the use of
Montana's fish and wildlife resources for public benefit now and in the future. In 1987,
the Montana Legislature passed HB526 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 property interest proposals, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission and in some
cases the State Land Board must approve any acquisition of land proposed by the
agency. This Environmental Assessment is part of the decision making process.
LOCATION OF PROJECT
III.
This proposal involves three parcels. The Sieben Ranch-Mill Creek Acquisition joins
with the Sieben Ranch (Rattlesnake) Conservation Easement on the east, which joins with
the Lyons Creek Conservation Easement on the north (Project Map). Each parcel is being
handled independently because of different original and ultimate ownerships, and final
disposition.
Sieben Ranch (Rattlesnake Creek) Conservation Easement
The property is located approximately 22 miles northwest of Helena, east of state
highway 279, and 3 miles east of Flesher Pass (Project Map). This 10,867 acre property
surrounds all but 300 yards of the 6 mile length of Rattlesnake Creek and its 7 tributary
streams; itself a tributary of Canyon Creek. In addition, portions of tributaries to Big Mill
Creek, Sawmill Creek, Canyon Creek, Miners Gulch and Big Sheep Creek are involved. It
includes the south and east faces of Mitchell Mountain and the summit and west, north
and east exposures of Lyons Mountain. Elevation spans 3,200 feet from 4,520 feet near
the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek to 7,738 feet at the summit of Lyons Mountain. Access
to Rattlesnake Creek exists from State Highway 279, but crosses approximately 14 mile of
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Sieben Ranch Mill Creek Fee Title Acquisition O'Connell Ranch Lyons Creek Conservation Easement