Tester, Daines Urge Support for Whitefish Lake Watershed Project

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines urged support and continued funding for the Whitefish Lake Watershed Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Project.

In a letter to Jim Kurth, the Acting Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Tester and Daines underscored the importance of the project.

“This investment will further help conserve the outdoor way of life in the Whitefish area, protect critical investments in water quality for the City of Whitefish, secure working forests, and protect habitat important to many of Montana’s iconic wildlife species,” the Senators wrote.

The conservation easement on the Weyerhauser property will greatly complement conservation efforts by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Habitat Conservation Plan, as well as efforts by the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, which is supported by Montana’s congressional delegation. The project will help protect the habitat of iconic wildlife species while ensuring the property remains in timber production and provides public access for hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and other ways of outdoor recreation, all critical to the local economy.

On September 15, 2016, Tester and Daines announced $2 million in funding for the Whitefish Lake Watershed LWCF Project. The funding is made available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

On May 20, 2016 the delegation urged the FWS to prioritize the Whitefish Lake Watershed Project.  

The letter can be downloaded HERE.