This week PCEC submitted our comments on the Environmental Analysis (EA) for the East Crazy Inspiration Divide Land Exchange in the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

The Crazy Mountains are an important wild, cultural and working landscape that we are committed to protecting for future generations. If we can resolve some of these decades-old access and land use disputes, we can better collaboratively steward this wild ecosystem together.

PCEC believes we, as a community, need to address the legacy of checkerboard land fragmentation. That's why we have been involved in discussions about the East Crazy Mountain land exchange for several years. Consolidating public land in the Crazy Mountains can improve connectivity for wildlife, and clarify where and how people can access public land.

While the deal has incrementally improved since the proposal originally shared with us in 2019, some critical elements are still missing. The proposed alternative in the Environmental Assessment (EA) does not sufficiently protect the wild character of the Sweet Grass Creek drainage and eastern front of the Crazy Mountains from future development. We believe the land the Forest Service proposes trading to private landowners should be protected with permanent conservation easements to prevent commercialization, residential subdivisions, and other forms of degradation. The EA should also specify the ancillary landowner agreements that were widely promoted as benefits of the land exchange.

PCEC objects to the proposed alternative because we believe the Forest Service should work with landowners to improve the conservation, cultural, and public benefits of the land exchange before making a final decision.

You can read our full letter HERE.

Sweet Grass Creek drainage, it's a special place. We are asking the Forest Service to work with landowners on more restrictive conservation easements so this land is never developed.

Below is a summary of our specific concerns:

The deed restrictions must be more permanent and protective of the Crazy Mountains: The deed restrictions outlined in the EA are not permanent conservation easements, and do not prohibit any kind of commercial or residential development like luxury resorts and subdivisions. The covenants that do exist only apply to the lands exchanged in the Sweet Grass and Big Timber Creek drainages, not all the land being traded to private landowners. In the South Crazy land exchange, all landowners agreed to voluntarily place permanent restrictions on the federal lands to be conveyed into private ownership at the closing of the exchange. This land exchange lacks this permanent protection.
More analysis is needed to determine if reasonably foreseeable future uses of the land being traded will harm wildlife and the ecosystem: The EA relies on an assumption that landowners receiving federal land in the exchange will not develop their property, an outcome that is not guaranteed. It is also short sided considering the growth and development pressures in Southwest Montana. The Forest Service must analyze these reasonably foreseeable land uses unless there are much more protective land use restrictions put in place.
New boundary adjustments require further analysis: The boundary adjustment to protect and improve access to Sweet Grass Creek in Section 10 was a positive improvement from the original proposal, but may lead to increased resource damage caused by people walking up the creek bed and creating new camping areas on Sweet Grass Creek. We suggested alternatives to allow use of the existing Sweet Grass trail and camping areas like Eagle Park to reduce new disturbance.
The land exchange should not be finalized until voluntary commitments are formalized: Other commitments made by private landowners involved in the trade such as allowing seasonal access to Sweet Grass Creek trail, and permanent protection and Tribal access to Crazy Peak are not addressed, or in some cases not even mentioned in the EA. PCEC participated in many conversations where additional public benefits were discussed and we are concerned that if not formalized, these widely advertised commitments may not be carried forward.

The Crazy Mountains deserve the utmost consideration, and a thoughtful process that ensures the best possible outcome for this wild, cultural and working landscape. This is an extremely rare opportunity to have the Forest Service, willing landowners, and diverse interest groups engaging on an issue that will impact the landscape forever. We must do all we can today so future generations can know and be connected to the Crazy Mountains. With our cumulative voices together, we will make better decisions for the future of this ecosystem and our communities.

Thank you for hearing our concerns, we encourage you to share yours with the Forest Service as well. You may do that HERE by Monday, November 13th.

PCEC Comments on the East Crazy Inspiration Divide Land Exchange Draft Decision