WHITEFISH, Mont.- The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and Plum Creek today announced an agreement to work together to conserve 15,334 acres of Plum Creek's land in Western Montana. The vast majority of these lands are surrounded by the Stillwater State Forest north of Whitefish, Montana. Under the agreement, The Trust for Public Land will have an option to purchase 1,920 acres and establish a conservation easement on the remaining 13,414 acres, which Plum Creek will continue to own and manage as a working forest. The purchased lands will eventually be transferred into public ownership or to a conservation buyer. The agreement is subject to final conditions including appraisal and secured funding.
The conservation easement is envisaged to protect the area's critical fish and wildlife habitat, provide continued public access for outdoor recreation, and allow sustainable forest management. It will also help secure the City of Whitefish's water supply, 20 percent of which is drawn from Whitefish Lake, which is immediately adjacent to this property.
"We are delighted to be working with Plum Creek on another conservation project that, if completed, will protect an irreplaceable natural resource for the Whitefish community," said Dick Dolan, Northern Rockies director of The Trust for Public Land.
"Plum Creek has a strong history of partnering with conservation organizations, and we are pleased to partner with TPL to achieve this conservation outcome on more than 15,000 acres of land in Montana," said Tom Ray, vice president, Northwest resources and manufacturing.

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Plum Creek is among the largest and most geographically diverse private landowners in the nation with more than 6 million acres of timberlands in 19 states. We also operate wood products mills in the Northwest. We manage our working forests using sustainable practices to benefit Plum Creek's many stakeholders. Our employees work together to create shareholder value, serve as stewards of the environment, make wood products for everyday use, and build strong communities. Please visit www.plumcreek.com for the latest information about Plum Creek.

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live within a ten-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year.ww.tpl.org.

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