Lincoln Prosperity Proposal
Lincoln is a gateway community to the Continental Divide Trail, the Blackfoot River and the Scapegoat Wilderness. People come to hunt big game, fish the Blackfoot River and its tributaries and visit its world-renowned outdoor sculpture park. The Lincoln Prosperity Proposal will expand Lincoln’s recreation opportunities and boost local business while ensuring protection of clean water, habitat and wide-open spaces. The plan, offers management recommendations for 200,000-acres of national forest lands, consists of three primary parts: Conservation, Forest Restoration and Recreation.
Conservation
Conservation Areas
This proposal identifies three areas – totaling 63,000 acres – for enhanced conservation. The proposal would maintain existing uses in these areas and prevent future development—in short, it would keep these areas the way they are. The proposal - which refers to these areas as the Continental Divide, Rocky Mountain Front and Stonewall conservation management areas - would permanently protect the backcountry qualities of these lands while allowing existing uses to continue. Local ranchers can continue to graze their livestock on existing forest allotments and mountain bikers will continue to have access to existing, high-elevation trails. The proposal will also prevent any future mining, energy development, or road-building in these areas, ensuring the headwater streams of the Blackfoot River and the Continental Divide Trail corridor remain as pristine as they are today.
Wilderness
This plan creates 56,000 new acres of wilderness around the Lincoln Valley. This plan would expand the beloved Scapegoat Wilderness by 16,000 acres and create a new 40,000-acre Nevada Mountain wilderness area. Nevada Mountain is a hidden gem located northwest of Helena and south of Lincoln. It’s popular among backcountry hunters and wildlife watchers; an important source of water for ranches and homes in Avon, Helmville and Canyon Creek; and visible from the slopes of Great Divide Ski Area.
Forest Restoration
This proposal will restore prized fisheries, create sustainable jobs, protect migrating wildlife, improve forest conditions and reduce wildfire risk. This proposal identifies roughly 70,000 acres near Lincoln for forest and stream restoration projects, vegetation management, and reducing the risks of potential wildfire threatening Lincoln homes and businesses by giving the U.S. Forest Service greater management flexibility. All restoration and fire mitigation projects will adhere to strict NEPA guidelines and protect endangered species, such as Canada lynx, grizzly bears and wolverines. A healthy forest is good for wildlife, the environment and future generations.
Recreation
Snowmobiling:
• Secures permanent access to the Copper Bowls Winter Play Area and expands the area by 400 acres.
Mountain Biking:
• Creates an opportunity for a new, epic 18-mile, high-elevation trail, which would be one of the best in MT.
• Secures 65 miles of mountain bike trail access
Hiking:
• Permanently protects more than 100 miles of non-motorized trails, including 65 miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and 60 miles of trails protected by new Wilderness designations.
ATV/ Dirt Biking:
• Permanent protection for Bartlett and Sandbar Creek Off-Highway Vehicle Trail systems and 10,600 acres for motorized recreation in these areas .
• Creates an opportunity for a connected Off-Highway Vehicle trail loop that is more than 70 miles long, including 20 miles of new trails.
• Helps alleviate past management and trespass issues
Fishing:
• Eliminates future mining activity within 90,000 acres along the Continental Divide and headwaters for key Blackfoot River tributaries like Alice Creek, Nevada Creek and the Landers Fork.
• Catalyzes forest and stream restoration projects in 69,000 acres of Ogden Mountain and Lincoln Gulch Restoration Areas.
Hunting:
• Permanently protects critical big game habitat in Nevada Mountain, Scapegoat Wilderness additions and along the Continental Divide.
• Protects access for backcountry hunting opportunities in Nevada Mountain Wilderness Area, which local hunters have advocated a half-century for.
Horseback Riding:
• Permanently protects non-motorized access to 100+ miles of trails, including 60 miles of trails within newly designated Wilderness.