Helena National Forest

Elkhorns Wildlife Management Unit

Elkhorn Conservation Initiative

Elkhorns: Lands:

Celebrate the 100th birthday of the Elkhorn Forest Reserve!

The Elkhorn Mountains: A Range of Reflection

for more information about the Elkhorn Initiative, click here

Current Land Status

The Elkhorns are an isolated mountain range consisting of mostly public lands. However, there are several thousand acres of patented mining claims (20 acre parcels) within the public ownership boundaries. As these private in-holdings become developed for cabin or homes with their commensurate access roads, they pose a long term threat to the habitat, security and viability of elk, deer and other wildlife resources of the Elkhorns. These ownerships are on both summer and winter ranges and migration corridors.

Public land ownership in the Elkhorns consists of primarily the core interior of the mountain range. The outer lands are largely privately owned with much of that in large ranch and grazing lands. Together the private an public lands contain the necessary winter range for nearly 2000 elk, hundreds of mule and whitetail deer and bighorn sheep, with winter range use being roughly evenly split between the two. Over the past several years critical portions of the private lands have been subdivided with subsequent adverse effects to winter range.

 

Action Plan

The Helena and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests and the Butte Field Office of the BLM in coordination with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park propose to develop an aggressive five-year program to identify key properties for acquisition, exchange or conservation easement with willing sellers and to secure funding from federal, state and private sources to acquire land or interests in those lands for the public. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) will assist in coordinating these efforts. RMEF will seek to raise $250,000 from individuals, corporations and foundations over a three-year period from 2003-2005 for Elkhorns Conservation Initiative. RMEF will also assist in identifying and participating in habitat enhancement efforts, and in acquiring the 6,000 acre Iron Mask property and other critical lands.

The RMEF has already helped to secure 323 acres of patented mining claim land and have transfered them to the Forest Service.

 

 

Memorandum of Understanding

(ELKHORN INITIATIVE)
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Between the

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PARKS

US DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

And the

US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - FOREST SERVICE,
BEAVERHEAD-DEERLODGE NATIONAL FOREST
AND HELENA NATIONAL FOREST

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is hereby made and entered into by and between the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP), Bureau of Land Management (BLM-Butte Field Office), hereinafter referred to collectively as the Cooperators, and the USDA Forest Service, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and Helena National Forest, hereinafter referred to as the Forest Service.

I. BACKGROUND:

The Elkhorn Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) was established in 1981 by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Elkhorn WMU represents the only such designation in the National Forest System. The Elkhorn’s include critical habitat for fish and wildlife and have significant public recreation values. Livestock grazing in the Elkhorns has been a traditional use that supports rural communities and lifestyles. Residential subdivision is occurring on the flanks of the Elkhorns and is impacting winter wildlife ranges; and there are significant numbers of smaller private inholdings within the Elkhorn WMU.

The 160,000 acres of the National Forest System land in the Elkhorn mountains includes the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Helena National Forests. Significant Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands adjoin or are within the Elkhorn WMU. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) has the legal and management responsibility for the enhancement and protection of fish and wildlife and state park lands in the Elkhorns, as well for conservation easements and Park sites, and implementing fish and wildlife enhancement projects. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) recognizes the Elkhorns as a high priority area and is focusing on the conservation and enhancement of critical wildlife habitat.

The management of the public land in the Elkhorns is led by the Elkhorn Steering Committee, representing the Helena and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests, Butte Field Office of the BLM, and MFWP.

II. PURPOSE:

The purpose of the MOU is to establish a framework for cooperation between the parties to develop and implement an aggressive 5-year (2003-2007) initiative to conserve and/or enhance up to 20,000 acres of habitat for elk and other wildlife. (Reference the Elkhorn’s Conservation Initiative, attached as Exhibit A).

III. STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTEREST AND BENEFIT:

As identified in the Background, the Cooperators and the Forest Service each have an overlapping interest and/or responsibility for segments of the land management, conservation, and development of private and public land with regard to the wise use of the soil, water, plants, animals, and related natural resources.

In consideration of the above premises, the parties agree as follows:

IV. THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION SHALL:

A. Initiate an effort to seek $250,000 from individuals, corporations and foundations to be used to assist in coordinating and funding the initiative.
B. Provide staff to coordinate and assist the agencies in developing criteria for focusing conservation and enhancement projects and present criteria to steering committee.
C. Develop GIS maps to show priority areas.
D. Assist in holding public forums to solicit public comment on priority land criteria.
E. Initiate contact and negotiate interests in land to meet plan objectives.
F. Provide liaison with the congressional delegation.

V. MONTANA FISH, WIDLIFE AND PARKS SHALL:

A. Assign staff to the initiative project.
B. Submit appropriate projects for Habitat Montana and habitat enhancement funding.
C. Provide appropriate level of funding for coordination assistance.
D. Provide assistance on implementation of lands and habitat projects.
E. Provide coordination, assistance and funding through the annual Program of Work for the Elkhorns. (this is under a separate MOU)

VI. THE BUTTE FIELD OFFICE OF THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT SHALL:

A. Assign staff to the initiative project.
B. Make appropriate LWCF funding requests and other appropriate funding requests to State Director.
C. Provide appropriate level of funding for coordination and assistance.
D. Provide assistance and funding for implementation of lands and habitat projects.
E. Provide coordination, assistance and funding through the annual Program of Work for the Elkhorns. (this is under a separate MOU)

VII. THE FOREST SERVICE SHALL:

A. Assign staff to the initiative project.
B. Make appropriate LWCF funding requests and other appropriate funding requests to the Regional Forester.
C. Provide appropriate level of funding for coordination and assistance.
D. Provide assistance and funding for implementation of lands and habitat projects.
E. Provide coordination, assistance and funding through the annual Program of Work for the Elkhorns. (this is under a separate MOU)

VIII. IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED AND UNDERSTOOD BY AND BETWEEN THE PARTIES THAT:

A. PRINCIPAL CONTACTS. The principal contacts for this MOU are:

Ron Marcoux, Lands Program Manager Rick Hotaling, Area Manager
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Bureau of Land Management
1421 Stuart Butte Field Office
Helena, MT 59601 106 N. Parkmont
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: 406-442-1274 Phone: 406-494-5059
FAX: 406-495-9141 FAX: 406-533-7660
E-Mail: rmarcoux@rmef.org E-Mail: rhotalin@blm.gov

Mike Korn, Helena Area Manager Tom Reilly, Forest Supervisor
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF
930 Custer Avenue 420 Barrett Street
Helena, MT 59601 Dillon, MT 59725-3572
Phone: 406-495-3269 Phone: 406-683-3900, ext. 3973
FAX: 406-495-3273 FAX: 406-683-3855
E-Mail: mkorn@state.mt.us E-Mail: treilly@fs.fed.us

Tom Clifford, Forest Supervisor
Helena National Forest
2880 Skyway Drive
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 406-449-5201
FAX: 406-449-5436
E-Mail: tclifford@fs.fed.us

B. The Elkhorn Steering Committee will provide oversight and approval for the Conservation Initiative effort identified as part of this MOU.

C. RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTIES. The Forest Service and the Cooperators and their respective agencies and office will handle their own activities and utilize their own resources, including the expenditure of their own funds, in pursuing these objectives. Each party will carry out its separate activities in a coordinated and mutually beneficial manner.

D. ESTABLISHMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY. This MOU is not intended to, and does not create, any right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity, by a party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any person.

E. NON-FUND OBLIGATING DOCUMENT. Nothing in this MOU shall obligate either the Forest Service or the Coordinators to obligate or transfer any funds. Specific work projects or activities that involve the transfer of funds, services, or property among the various agencies and offices of the Forest Service and the Cooperators will require execution of separate agreements and be contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. Such activities must be independently authorized by appropriate statutory authority. This MOU does not provide such authority. Negotiation, execution, and administration of each such agreement must comply with all applicable statues and regulations.

F. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA). Any information furnished to the Forest Service under this MOU is subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

G. PARTICIPATION IN SIMILAR ACTIVITIES. This MOU in no way restricts the Forest Service or the Cooperators from participating in similar activities with other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals.

H. COMMENCEMENT/EXPIRATION/TERMINATION. This MOU takes effect upon the signature of the Forest Service and the Cooperators and shall remain in effect for time period of no more than five years from the date of execution. This MOU may be extended or amended upon written request of either the Department of Agriculture or the Cooperators and the subsequent written concurrence of the other(s). Either the Department of Agriculture or the Cooperators may terminate this MOU with a 60-day written notice to the other(s).

The authority and format of this MOU have been reviewed and approved for signature.
/s/ Danielle L. Price May 12, 2003
Forest Service Grants & Agreements Specialist Date

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this MOU as of the last written date below.

/s/ Peter Dart October 6, 2003
PETER DART, CEO Date
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

/s/ Patrick Flowers October 1, 2003
PATRICK FLOWERS, Supervisor Date
Region 3, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

/s/ Richard Hotaling October 1, 2003
RICHARD HOTALING, Butte Area Manager Date
Bureau of Land Management

/s/ Thomas K. Reilly October 1, 2003
THOMAS K. REILLY, Forest Supervisor Date
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

/s/ Thomas J. Clifford October 1, 2003
THOMAS J. CLIFFORD, Forest Supervisor Date
Helena National Forest

The Iron Mask Property (about 6,000 acres near Townsend)

USDA Forest Service - Helena National Forest
Last Modified: Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 10:57:38 EDT