Bitterroot Star

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Otto Teller honored at Woodside FAS

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There is a new plaque at the Woodside Fishing Access Site on the Bitterroot River west of Corvallis honoring Otto Teller, the landowner who dedicated the land to the state in 1989 establishing river access there for the public in perpetuity. The plaque says: “For generations to come, we will share in and benefit from Otto Teller’s generous contribution in conserving wild tout fisheries. Otto set the example for all of us by being sensitive to land use and nurturing a healthy environment. We thank Otto Teller for his donation of land and the invaluable contributions he has made to Montana’s national heritage.”
There is a new plaque at the Woodside Fishing Access Site on the Bitterroot River west of Corvallis honoring Otto Teller, the landowner who dedicated the land to the state in 1989 establishing river access there for the public in perpetuity. The plaque says: “For generations to come, we will share in and benefit from Otto Teller’s generous contribution in conserving wild tout fisheries. Otto set the example for all of us by being sensitive to land use and nurturing a healthy environment. We thank Otto Teller for his donation of land and the invaluable contributions he has made to Montana’s national heritage.”

By Michael Howell

A dedication ceremony was held at the Woodside Fishing Access Site (FAS) on Thursday, March 3, in celebration of the erection of a new memorial plaque honoring Otto Teller who generously donated the land for the FAS in 1989. Creation of the new memorial plaque was spearheaded by Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks River Ranger Clint Hultberg who noticed the dilapidated condition of the previous memorial plaque. He and FWP River Ranger Ben Schmidt teamed up with folks at the Teller Wildlife Refuge to make the new memorial plaque a reality.

The fishing access site has a concrete boat launch that was installed by the Bitterroot Chapter of Trout Unlimited. At the north end of the FAS is the entrance to the Teller Trail, a one-mile loop trail that allows the public to access about 40 acres of riparian habitat in the river bottom. This river bottom area is part of the 1,200-acre Teller Wildlife Refuge and has been designated as a National Audubon Important Bird Area and is home to over 145 species of birds, not to mention the other wildlife that enjoy the area such as moose, deer and mountain lions.

Established in 1988, Teller Wildlife Refuge is a private, non-profit conservation organization. The refuge stretches along a five-mile section of the Bitterroot River. It is made up of diverse habitats, including streams, spring creeks, irrigation ditches, emergent and open water wetlands, and agricultural fields.

The Teller Refuge exists because of the foresight of two conservation legends, Otto “Mose” Teller and Phil Tawney. The two joined together in the early 1980s to work for the conservation of Montana’s natural resources.

Teller was an avid fly fisherman and waterfowl hunter, conservationist and summer resident of the Bitterroot Valley for more than 50 years. He became increasingly concerned about the fragmentation of habitat in the Bitterroot, and began purchasing river bottom and farmland properties. He combined 18 smaller properties near Corvallis to recreate what had been the Chaffin and Slack family homesteads.

With the help of attorney Phil Tawney, Teller consolidated and placed the 1,200 acres into conservation easements, assuring that the land would remain forever undeveloped. Teller remodeled some of the homes and barns on the properties to serve as guest houses for visitors and as a meeting place for conservation gatherings and forums.

Otto Teller passed away on December 1, 1998 but the legacy that he and his wife Anne left will benefit the public and the wildlife in the Bitterroot Valley for generations to come.

“It feels good to have a decent sign honoring Otto for all the things he’s done,” said Hultberg.

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