Bringing the Alberton Gorge into Public Hands

The Alberton Gorge is protected forever. After more than a decade of work, including an extended six-year public process, a series of land transactions were finalized in late November 2004 bringing key private lands along the Alberton Gorge into public ownership. The complex land exchange involved ten parcels of land throughout western and central Montana and five different parties—NorthWestern Energy, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), the U.S. Forest Service, Five Valleys Land Trust, and the River Network.

The most significant transaction involved the transfer of 306 acres lining the Alberton Gorge from NorthWestern Energy through the land trust to FWP.

“The Alberton Gorge holds special meaning for Montanans and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. We’re pleased to be part of a collaborative effort to protect the Gorge for future generations,” said Mike Hanson, Chief Operating Officer of NorthWestern Energy.

"The Alberton Gorge land exchange is an example of Montana's community spirit,” states FWP Director Jeff Hagener. “With the conservation vision and cooperation of the Mineral County Commissioners, a local working group, a number of private citizens, NorthWestern Energy, the River Network, Five Valleys Land Trust, U.S. Forest Service, and FWP, the people of Montana will forever have this very special river corridor preserved and protected. The Alberton Gorge can now always be counted among Montana’s premiere recreational and natural treasures."

Located thirty-five miles west of Missoula, the Gorge extends for seven spectacular miles. Through it, the continual wearing force of the Clark Fork River has carved dramatic canyon walls that reveal sheer cliffs of ancient, rose-colored bedrock and steep slopes of pine, fir, and spruce.

The narrowness of the canyon combined with deep channel drops and submerged rocks create spine-tingling whitewater that draws more than 25,000 kayakers and rafters each year making it by far the most important whitewater recreation destination in western Montana.

The Alberton Gorge is also a critical area for fish and wildlife. The Clark Fork River through the Gorge harbors thriving populations of rainbow and cutthroat trout, and the area provides excellent habitat for elk, deer, wolves, eagles, osprey and other wildlife. In addition, the Gorge serves as an important natural corridor for migrating wildlife traveling between mountain ranges on both sides of the valley.

“The Gorge is one of western Montana’s scenic and recreational treasures,”
states Five Valleys’ Executive Director Wendy Ninteman. “The Five Valleys Land Trust is thrilled to play a role in assuring that it will remain as it is for future generations.”

The history of the land exchange is long and circuitous. In 1998, the River Network, a national, nonprofit river conservation organization, secured an option to purchase Montana Power’s land holdings in the Gorge. This option gave the River Network, the Forest Service, and FWP the opportunity that was needed to craft a land exchange that would guarantee protection of the Gorge. In 2002, Montana Power was purchased by NorthWestern Energy, which continued its predecessor’s commitment to preserve the Gorge.

In 2003, the River Network reorganized its mission rendering it unable to complete the land exchange. Fortunately, Five Valleys Land Trust stepped into the facilitating role to finally complete the enormous amount of paperwork and financial commitments needed to bring the Alberton Gorge into public ownership.

“The Alberton Gorge is a gem,” states River Network President Don Elder.

“The dramatic canyon provides crucial habitat for fish and wildlife, unsurpassed scenic beauty, and whitewater that is widely considered the most challenging and exciting in all of Montana. We have long sought protection for the Alberton Gorge, and thanks to the sustained good work of our many conservation partners, this goal has now been realized. We are proud to have played a role, and we are delighted that this gem has been secured for the people of Montana for generations to come.”

The complicated land exchange involved more than the Alberton Gorge parcel.

The U.S. Forest Service acquired several FWP properties in western and central Montana in the process, including the Frank Lake Fishing Access, Natural Bridge State Park, and Tizer Lakes Fishing Access.

“This was an important land exchange for the Forest Service’s Northern Region,” states Deputy Regional Forester Kathy McAllister. “While helping to preserve the Alberton Gorge corridor, this land exchange also consolidates national forest system landownership. This will improve administration and improve efficiency of our land management activities, including fish and wildlife management, public outdoor recreational use, campground maintenance, boundary management, access, and noxious weed management.”

"This would not have happened without the perseverance of our partners to this transaction,” adds McAllister. “We give special thanks to Northwestern Energy for making its property available and sticking with us throughout our land exchange process, and Five Valleys Land Trust in facilitating this transaction.”

As a result of the land exchange, Five Valleys Land Trust aquired two adjoining Forest Service parcels totaling 560 acres located near Tarkio.  These parcels also have significant conservation and recreation values, including a sizable elk herd that winters on the land. To protect these public values, the land trust is engaged in a second land exchange with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) with the aim of transferring these parcels to the state in exchange for other DNRC lands in Mineral County.

“The protection of the Gorge is a glowing example of what can be accomplished with a strong, sustaining vision, a broad-based cooperative effort, and an enormous amount of work. It is truly something to be thankful for,” states Ninteman. “Now we look forward to working with the Department of Natural Resources and the people of Mineral County to complete the next phase of the exchange."