It's not all quiet on the Crazy Mountain front...
It’s been a few months since we’ve provided an update on our work in the Crazy Mountains. But it hasn't been quiet.
As you may know, PCEC is involved in several ongoing efforts in the Crazy Mountains centered on the long-term goals of consolidating checkerboarded land, protecting wildlife habitat and resolving access conflicts. Overcoming these challenges requires small, incremental steps. Bit by bit, we are putting the pieces back together. Here’s what happened in 2020:
East Crazy Mountain and Inspiration Divide Land Exchange
PCEC along with a diverse coalition of community members launched the Crazy Mountain Access Project to help support projects that strive to consolidate public land, conserve habitat and resolve uncertainty over access.
This summer, after several years of collaborative discussions, the coalition publicly announced the East Crazy Mountain and Inspiration Divide Land Exchange. We see tremendous potential in the proposal, as it would clean up a highly checkerboarded area of the range to consolidate 30 square miles of roadless public land, and replace a contested route connecting Big Timber Canyon and Sweet Grass Canyon.
Thanks to everyone who attended the open houses this summer, commented through the portal or has been following the discussion on social media. PCEC has reviewed your suggestions and is working hard to improve the conservation outcomes of the land exchange.
To support our work, click here!
South Crazies Land Exchange
This month the Forest Service released their draft decision on the South Crazy Land Exchange.
The South Crazy Land Exchange aligns with our conservation goals in the range. However, we found issues with one element of the proposal that weakened the deal for the public. You can read our full comment HERE. In their draft decision the Forest Service listened to public input, including ours, and they decided to remove the controversial portion from the swap. It's an incremental step, but an important one, leaving the door open for future resolution. PCEC will continue to work with the Forest Service and landowners to identify other opportunities to consolidate inholdings in the southern part of the range.
Porcupine Ibex Trail Reroute
This summer, the Forest Service completed Phase II of the Porcupine Ibex trail. The Porcupine Ibex reroutes the disputed Porcupine Lowline #267 route that crosses several miles of private land. When complete in 2021, the new route will be primarily on public lands and will connect the Porcupine and Ibex Cabins, as well as linking up with other forest trails to create a west side loop. We had an opportunity to backpack on the rerouted trail this summer from Porcupine Cabin to Campfire Lake. If you haven’t had a chance to experience it yet, put it on your list!
PCEC is taking the long view in the Crazies. At one time, the Bridgers and the Gallatins were just as checkerboarded as the Crazy Mountains. But bit by bit, through several land exchanges and incremental steps, public lands in those ranges were consolidated.
We’re working in that direction in the Crazy Mountains, and look forward to continuing this work in 2021.
In Community,
Erica