Opinion / A Place For All
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Seeley-Swan valley real estate is white hot
2021 - THE REAL ESTATE BREAKOUT The past year has seen intense buyer pressure in the local real estate markets. Montana buyers primarily from Missoula, Helena, Bozeman and Great Falls continued...
Fuels reduction amidst climate change
Wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more destructive. The 2021 fire season in Oregon began in May, a month early, due to drought conditions resulting in low fuel moistures and a light snow pack....
Bare naked legs
Just the other day while working at Placid Lake State Park, I observed a group of ducks gathered around a large space of open, ice-free water. Some were swimming and foraging in the shallow bottom... Full story
Fostering partnerships in 2022
The New Year is a natural time for reflection and looking ahead. We hope you had a great holiday with your family and friends, and that you had time do just that. As I reflect on 2021, I am encouraged by the growing partnerships of people who share a...
Gearing up for a winter of outdoor recreation
As winter dawns over the Seeley Swan Valley, the ROCKS team springs into a frenzy of action. It is during this ever-changing and unpredictable weather season that we realize the somewhat limited contr...
FWP proposing changes in Hunting District 285
I can't believe I've lived to see this. It seems like it was yesterday. Maybe it was 30 years ago when I pulled my Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) pickup off the north side of Highway 200, snuck...
New protections for wetland habitat near Condon
Grizzly bears in the Mission and Swan mountains have likely entered their dens for the winter, but an important habitat linkage for the species will remain conserved as open space next spring-and for...
Management of the Swan Legacy Forest
The smell of freshly cut limbs and trees wafts through the air as I walk through the project area. The low hum of the harvester, a large and impressive piece of logging equipment, works right over...
Delivering place-based education in the Blackfoot
At the Blackfoot Challenge, we believe that the best place to learn about the watershed is in the watershed and that our best teachers are those who have experience here. That's why our education...
Being in nature is far more than simply immersing…
An October day several years ago next to a lake where I was working for the government on a grizzly project… The first lavender light of day is a time when the softness of shapes can barely be seen through the mist rising from the lake… The...
Protecting yourself and your rights
Whether you are currently renting or you have rented in the past, when moving out we all eagerly anticipate the return of our security deposit from our landlord. Then, when it arrives been...
Restoration work completed on Poorman Creek
2021 in the Blackfoot River Valley proved to be another busy and productive project season collaborating with our many state, federal and private partners. This year we focused in the upper Blackfoot...
A Historical Journey through Bob Marshall Country
It had been a long day on the trail in 1996 as I slowly worked my way toward the top of the ridge clearing downfall from the trail. When I reached the top of the ridge, the land opened up and the views were especially beautiful as the late evening...
AmeriCrops volunteers - Serving our communities
AmeriCorps is a network of local, state and national service programs. Over the last few years, Montana has proven that national service is something that is very important for our residents. In...
What's behind your label?
It has been said that the only constant thing is change itself. After 72 years of operations, Pyramid Mountain Lumber in Seeley Lake, Montana has seen its fair share of change. Like most small...
Food safety during a disaster
September is disaster preparedness month (Ready.gov). "Promoting Preparedness Through Public Involvement", is the goal of this year's national public service campaign. Natural disasters continue to...
Make plans for winter...now
As the seasons change, the town is slowing down. Now is the time to start thinking about preparing for the winter weather. Make sure that your skirting is intact and pipes are well insulated. Also, having your furnace serviced and chimney/stove pipe...
Seeley-Swan real estate hitting new highs
WHAT A DIFFERENCE THREE YEARS MAKES In 2018 and 2019 the local real estate market was healthy and predictable with very moderate price appreciation. Sales were consistent with no significant market increases either in total dollar volume sold or...
The Clearwater Valley in the midst of a waterlily invasion
A field of green greets both residents and visitors to many of the lakes in the Clearwater Valley. However, this is not the field of green you may be thinking of – This particular landscape lacks...
Can coexistence keep up with the bears?
Grizzly bears are not stationary creatures. With a range that historically stretched from the Pacific Coast across the Great Plains, bears evolved to thrive on many landscapes. Individual grizzlies...
Talkin' trash: Making an impact with Leave No Trace
Twelve years ago, while backpacking in broad daylight, I came around a shady bend in the trail, only to find a full moon beaming against a tree. "Oh, I'm sorry," the woman exclaimed, shuffling up her...
Missoula Electric Cooperative's approach to wildfire prevention
The Western United States has experienced some of the most devastating wildfires in the nation's history. In 2017, the wildfire season brought unique challenges for Montana. Not only was it exceptiona...
Blackfoot Challenge responds to fatal grizzly bear incident with community members
The recent death of Leah Lokan from a grizzly bear mauling while camping in Ovando on July 6 has reinforced the need to maintain and enhance efforts to protect human safety and to reduce conflicts...
Important questions to ask a potential real estate agent before listing your home
You're probably aware of the sweeping impact the pandemic had on the real estate market across the country. In our area, much of our inventory quickly sold. The lack of homes for sale has put...
Leaving no trace
Editor’s Note: Howard Copenhaver of Ovando wrote this in 1994. Copenhaver was 89 when he died in 2004. Howard’s daughter Sue Copenhaver Lapka gave permission to reprint this article in full. Before I can say much about “leaving no trace” in...