by Mike Plieger, Dillon
As the owner of Lakeland Feed and Supply, past member of the Right To Farm And Ranch Board, and liaison from that group to the Open Lands Board, I know how special Ravalli County is. We have a pristine river the length of the valley, fertile ranch and farm lands, and beautiful landscapes to enjoy that also allow us to make a living everyday. But the Bitterroot Valley is quickly changing. We are growing faster than ever and it is putting pressure on our rural way of life. The good news is, we have a local tool to help preserve the Bitterroot Valley and our rural values–it’s called the Ravalli County Open Lands Program.
First passed by Ravalli County citizens in 2006, the Ravalli County Open Lands Program helps local landowners and the community protect thousands of acres of family farms and ranches, preserve open lands, protect water quality of streams and the Bitterroot River, and maintain wildlife habitat. It is a voter approved and landowner driven program, meaning it’s the folks in Ravalli County who decide how to best manage our land. To date, we’ve protected over 10,000 acres of land and nearly 40 miles of streamside habitat, as well as recreational sites for everyone to use and enjoy. That’s land that we’ve protected in perpetuity for generations to come.
The Open Lands Program provides incredible value for Ravalli County citizens. Renewing the program will cost the average Ravalli County residence less than $21 per year. It’s also important to note that the Open Lands Program is funded by a bond, not a levy. That means by voting YES we are authorizing a one-time renewal of the program, not a permanent increase in property taxes.
We have an opportunity to renew this home-grown conservation program on November 8th. At a time when Montana is losing 1,500 acres of open land per month, conserving our increasingly valuable open land is a good thing, especially here in our home valley. Our Ravalli County Open Lands Program is our way of passing on our land, water, wildlife, and rural values to future generations.
I supported it back in 2006 and I support it now. Vote YES on the Ravalli County Open Lands bond this November 8th!