Haskill Basin

A handshake deal with F.H. Stoltze, Montana’s oldest lumber company, allowed the City of Whitefish to draw its drinking water from the Haskill Basin.  A similarly informal arrangement allowed public access to hunt, fish, hike, bike, and ski.

The friendly agreement also protected habitat for grizzly bears, lynx, wolverines, elk, deer, and many other species.

But times change. These days, Whitefish is a resort destination, and its ski slopes and golf courses have made it a prime location for second-home development. As property values rose, so did the risk that the lumber company might be forced to sell the property—and that the new owners might not care to honor an unwritten arrangement made more than a century ago.

This could jeopardize the source of  75 percent of the city’s remaining water supply, forcing taxpayers to shell out at least a half-million dollars a year on alternative sources. Factor in residents’ concern for local jobs in timber and tourism, and community leaders knew that it was time to act.

Trust for Public Land worked with the city to put the question to its voters as a ballot measure. An overwhelming majority—84 percent—approved funds to help permanently protect the property. More help came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and its Forest Legacy Program, which ranked the Haskill Basin its highest priority anywhere in the country.

With the support of friends and donors, TPL completed a conservation easement covering more than 3,000 acres of land around lakes, rivers, and streams. With the land now permanently protected, residents and visitors to Whitefish can explore the Haskill Basin knowing that the land will always serve the community.

“This is truly a remarkable achievement and a win-win for everyone,” says Dick Dolan of Trust for Public Land. “Almost 5 square miles of beautiful forestland will be preserved forever in the backyard of Whitefish, and remain part of the vital local timber economy.”