ROAD EASEMENT - ACCESS TO CUSTER FOREST

ROAD EASEMENT SECURES ACCESS TO CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST

A cooperative effort involving a private landowner, the U.S. Forest Service, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has secured an important public access route to thousands of acres of national forest system land in southeastern Montana.

The Beaver-Stacey Road No. 4769, located about 20 miles west of Broadus, extends from the prairie to the pine-covered hills of the Custer National Forest along the Pumpkin Creek – Tongue River Divide. While rancher Sandra Wood always allowed recreationists to use the road through her property, there was no formal public easement on this half-mile segment of a 5-mile-long U.S. Forest Service road.

Now that gap has been closed, thanks to a road easement acquired by FWP and subsequently transferred to the USFS on May 23. Acquisition of the road easement was funded by FWP’s Access Public Land program, using proceeds generated through the sale of nonresident “Come Home to Hunt” licenses.

The USFS contributed on-the-ground services in the form of road work, surveying and title coverage, while Sandra Wood provided the opportunity to complete this permanent public access route across her family’s historic Montana ranch.
U.S. Forest Service contacts:

Walt Allen, District Ranger, Ashland Ranger District: 406-784-2344
Marna Daley, Public Affairs Officer, Custer National Forest: 406-587-6703
FWP contact:
Brad Schmitz, FWP Region 7: 406-234-0913

PLWA THANKS ALL THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH THIS ACTION !

(For further explanation of the FWP Access Public Lands program see article on the subject which follows on our Hot Topics tab. )

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