Commissioners hear Thompson Chain of Lakes plan

Engineer Brent Campbell from Missoula has been hired by Green Diamond Resource Company (GDRCo) to lead the process of planning the use of certain sections of land. Ownership by GDRCo includes over 300 acres in Sanders County that is included in the 2010 Thompson Chain of Lakes Plan. The company owns significantly more acreage in Sanders County, according to Campbell. Sanders County has been invited to participate in the updating of the Thompson Chain of Lakes Plan.

In 2021, GDRCo acquired 291,000 acres in northwest Montana. The company is working to conserve over 93%, or 271,000 acres, of timberlands. This will include five conservation easements: Montana Great Outdoors, Fisher-Thompson, Lost Trail, Lost Trail Expansion, and Upper Thompson Connectivity. The remaining 7% of these acres have been held back due to the potential of non-forestry use. GDRCo believes the working forest conservation easements (CEs) are valuable tools in observing working forests as well as recreational and open space opportunities for the public.

Within the Thompson Chain of Lakes area, approximately 5,000 acres belonging to GDRCo are not included in a CE. These acres are set aside for consideration in future sales into other uses. "These acres are not of much use for timber growth," Campbell said.

GDRCo wants to update the plan that was developed in 2010 in Lincoln County. The plan will be revised in Lincoln County. Campbell said the company wants to look at issues of wildlife corridors, fire prevention and sanitation in RV parks, and taxation on property where seasonal RV uses are not earning money for taxes on county services. The company emphasized their intentions of stewardship, integrity, community, profitability, and safety. These are their five core values, Campbell said.

At a meeting with Sanders County Commissioners last week, the commissioners and Katherine Maudrone, Director of Land Services, were asked to comment on the plan and its involvement in Sanders County. "We need to be updated as the plan progresses. We don't have a real policy or zoning plan at this time," Maudrone said. Commissioner Tony Cox agreed that they need to monitor what is going on with the project and with sales. "I like the idea of wildlife conservation," he said, referring to the plan by Campbell to have land set aside in developed areas for elk to move through freely and without fencing issues. GDRCo has plans to minimize the carbon footprint by making sure trees are replanted where and whenever they are removed.

Other public comments made were from Zack Whipple-Kilmer. "I am going to get on my soapbox and just say that it's hard to see Montana turn into a strip mall. It's not an ag-based area anymore," he stated. The discussion of Happy's Inn on Highway 2 between Libby and Kalispell referred to the population growth and development. Whipple-Kilmer also commented on the area of Sanders County where the river areas are being polluted with crime and drugs on the back roads. Kristen Wing from Thompson Falls asked about access in areas designated for trail use. She was concerned about motor traffic not being allowed where she likes to ride her 4 four-wheeler. "They say it will be open to motorized vehicles, but it may not be."

The Thompson Chain of Lakes is a state park that includes the three Thompson River areas as well as other lakes in Lincoln County and covers approximately 3,000 acres and twenty miles along Highway 2 halfway between Libby and Kalispell. The bottom of Lower Thompson Lake extends into Sanders County and has Fish, Wildlife and Parks land surrounding it.