Unanimous approval for Owen Sowerwine Natural Area conservation easement!
December 18, 2023
This morning, the Montana Land Board granted unanimous approval for a purchased conservation easement for the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area!
Flathead Audubon and Montana Audubon have been working collaboratively for nearly 30 years with the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation to lease or license this unique wild parcel of land. We join with Flathead Land Trust and all our Flathead-area friends & colleagues who helped make this possible to celebrate this approval.
Montana Audubon’s Executive Director, Larry Berrin, spoke at the meeting this morning. Berrin says, “We are so happy to have received approval from the Land Board to move forward with the conservation easement to permanently protect Owen Sowerwine, a designated Important Bird Area. Over 1/3rd of the bird species in Montana can be found in this 440 acres of pristine riverine habitat along the Flathead River near Kalispell.”
In the news:
Dec. 18, 2023 | State Land Board Approves the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on Owen Sowerwine | Flathead Land Trust
Dec. 18, 2023 | Owen Sowerwine Natural Area Granted Permanent Conservation Easement | Flathead Beacon
Dec. 19, 2023 | Land Board approves Owen Sowerwine conservation easement | Daily Inter Lake