Three privately owned parcels in the Elkhorn mountain range may become part of the Helena National Forest under a plan announced Thursday.

The Helena forest is working with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the private landowners to turn these patented mining claims into public lands. The parcels are inside the Helena forest boundaries, on the eastern flank of the Elkhorns, generally between Townsend and Winston.

"They're kind of small acreages, but private land within the national forest can have a pretty significant impact," noted Jerry Wells, who is helping the Elk Foundation with the project. "Probably the primary reason we are trying to help acquire these is the potential for recreational development, like cabins, for those parcels."

One of the properties involves about 20 acres, known as the Mountain Dude Tract, owned by David and Margaret Brown. The other two parcels, which are adjacent to one another, total 37 acres. They are known as the Monte Cristo and Winston Miner tracts, and owned by the Winston Livestock Company.

The Mountain Dude Tract is located between the Kleinschmidt and Park mines, and is bisected by Forest Road 405. It lies within an area of highly valued spring, summer, and fall wildlife habitat. The parcel could be developed as a summer home site, although public and private motorized access is seasonal.

The Monte Cristo and Winston Miner tracts are above the south fork of Beaver Creek, with a perennial stream running through it. The parcel lies within an area of highly valued spring, summer, and fall wildlife habitat. Public access is limited to non-motorized travel.

Larry Cole, realty specialist for the Helena National Forest, said the Elk Foundation will purchase the properties, then turn around and sell them to the federal agency. Appraisals haven't been done yet to determine the final purchase price.

Wells said the Elk Foundation was awarded two grants n one last week for up to $40,000 and the other last year for up to $20,000 n from the Montana Fish & Wildlife Conservation Trust. That trust was created through the sale of cabin sites at Canyon Ferry Reservoir.

He expects those grants to cover at least half of the money needed to purchase the land, with the Elk Foundation raising the remainder. The Helena Forest plans on using federal Land and Water Conservation Funds for the purchase.

Cole said the support of Montana's congressional delegation is important, particularly since Sen. Conrad Burns chairs the Interior Appropriations Committee, which is where the Land and Water Funds are made available.

"Our congressional delegation is the key to our success," Cole said.

The Elk Foundation has entered into a purchase option with the private landowners, and Cole anticipates that the sale could take place this summer.

"We're pretty excited about this," Cole said. "We're acquiring wildlife habitat, consolidating ownership n it's just a good thing all the way around."

Cole and Wells added that another much larger conservation project in the Elkhorns is still moving forward. That project calls for turning 5,850 acres of highly visible private mountainous terrain west of Highway 287 into public property.

The land is known as the "Iron Mask" property, and is generally located across from the Silos at the southern end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir.

"That's outside the Helena National Forest boundary, but we're still working on that with the Foundation, the BLM and the state," Cole said.

Get more information, submit comments

Additional information on these proposed acquisitions can be obtained from Realty Specialist Larry Cole at 495-3728. Comments on these proposed acquisitions by the Forest Service should be received by June 15. They can be sent to Cole at the Helena Ranger District office, 2001 Poplar St. Helena, MT 59601 or e-mailed to lcole@fs.fed.us.

Reporter Eve Byron can be reached at 447-4076 or by e-mail at eve.byron@helenair.com