Fowler Creek PROJECT BRIEF

Tucked into the northwestern corner of Montana, the Yaak Valley is one of the most remote places in the Lower 48 states. In The Book of Yaak, author Rick Bass describes the Yaak Valley, where he lives, as “a kind of church … A place with the residue of God—the scent, feel, sight, taste, and sound of God—forever fresh upon it.”

But it could all change very quickly.

Not spared from the real estate rush happening across Montana and Idaho, subdivision and dense development is picking up in pockets of the Yaak. For the area’s wildlife to remain diverse, habitat connections across the valley bottom must remain open. Vital Ground—with major support from landowner partners, the Wildlife Land Trust and individual contributors like you—is already leading the way. Over the last five years, our Broadie Habitat Preserve and Fowler Creek projects have protected nearly 1,000 acres of rich bottomlands.

Most recently, we conserved 64 acres to expand the contiguous Fowler Creek conservation area to more than 500 total acres of lush habitat beside a main Yaak River tributary. Read more…