As a fly fishing and hunting guide, I have had many conversations with folks about why they love the Bitterroot Valley. Their answers mirror my own feelings and those of my friends and family — wide open country, a lifestyle fueled by a love of the outdoors, recreational opportunities, and a diverse wildlife population. I will add that we are also fortunate to have an abundance of local food, clean water, and open land where we can go outside and escape from the crowds.
However, with Ravalli County becoming one of Montana’s fastest growing counties, we are at risk of losing all of this. Community sprawl might eventually put houses where there used to be family farms. An open field that has forever served as a migration corridor for elk and deer, long before we were here, will become a maze of fences and paved roads. Is this how we want this place to look in the next 20 years? I know I don’t. Fortunately, the Open Lands Bond Program has been an answer to helping to preserve this valley and our way of life for the past 16 years. It’s safeguarded our access to continue fly fishing on the Bitterroot River, access to endless hiking trails throughout the Sapphire and Bitterroot mountains, creating memories in the outdoors with our best friends and families, and being able to see for miles and miles without no buildings or structures in sight is what the Open Lands Bonds Program will continue to protect. For yourself. For future generations. For wildlife. Please vote yes to renew the Ravalli County Open Lands Program on Nov. 8th and protect everything we love about our Bitterroot Valley.
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Lane Blackwood, Hamilton
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