Bitterroot Valley news you may have missed this week

Here are some news stories from the Bitterroot Valley you may have missed this week...

Gianforte, USFS chief reveal initial logging locations under new state-federal partnership

Alongside U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Friday the selection of the first two "priority landscapes” under Montana’s Shared Stewardship Agreement.

The two landscapes selected span three western forests — the Flathead, Kootenai and Bitterroot national forests — where officials have designated over 400,000 acres of project area.

The Shared Stewardship Agreement is a “first-of-its-kind” agreement between the state and Forest Service that allows Montana DNRC to do forest management work on USFS land, officials have said. Schultz and Gianforte signed the deal during a press conference in Helena in June 2025. The agreement is a 20-year commitment sunsetting in 2045.

Gianforte, USFS chief reveal initial logging locations under new state-federal partnership

Lawsuit claims Ravalli County pretrial program charges hundreds without due process

Opening statements began Monday morning in a trial for a lawsuit over pretrial supervision fees in Ravalli County, disputing whether the county is violating the due process rights of poorer residents by charging them high monitoring fees to stay out of jail.

The case is being tried in Missoula's federal court before U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen.

When a defendant is given a bail amount they have to pay to be released from jail, judges will often order other conditions, like regular drug testing and ankle bracelets. In Ravalli County, that cost falls on the defendant to pay for those services.

In the class-action lawsuit, filed in 2021 by D.C.-based law firm Equal Justice Under Law on behalf of their Ravalli County clients, plaintiffs allege these fees reach hundreds of dollars every month, with no options for waivers or reductions. When people can't pay, the lawsuit alleges, their bail may be revoked.

Lawsuit claims Ravalli County pretrial program charges hundreds without due process

Nearly $5M secured for Ravalli County wastewater plant, bridge and road projects

Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke attended a ceremonial check signing with Ravalli County officials in Hamilton on Thursday celebrating $4.5 million dollars in federal funding secured for Bitterroot Valley infrastructure projects.

According to Zinke’s office, the funds were secured in fiscal year 2026 as a part of the appropriations process. The funding includes $2.5 million to build a new Ravalli County Wastewater Treatment Plant, $1 million in funding to repair Old Corvallis Road and $1 million for replacing Groff Lane Bridge.

Zinke, the former secretary of the Interior Department under President Donald Trump’s first administration, touched on a number of Bitterroot Valley issues during his visit, including the proposed Sheep Creek mine and Montana’s recent Shared Stewardship Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service signed by Governor Gianforte last week.

Nearly $5M secured for Ravalli County wastewater plant, bridge and road projects

Ravalli County officials host public meeting on proposed roads levy

Ravalli County Commissioners held a meeting at the fairgrounds Monday evening to discuss the proposed roads levy for the June ballot.

Commissioner Chairman Dan Huls read the resolution and how it will be written on the ballot. He said a nearly $3 million annual funding shortage is the main reason for the levy. If approved by voters, the levy will have a 10-year duration, set at an amount of up to $2,909,500 per year, paying for the cost of materials only, with the purpose of improving public safety.

“We need to do a better job with our roads, and roads are an important part of our county infrastructure,” Huls said. “And frankly, probably the thing that we get complaints on the most.”

Ravalli County officials host public meeting on proposed roads levy

Ravalli County officials approve Open Lands Bond funds for Chesebro Ranch conservation easement

Ravalli County Commissioners approved phase four of the Chesebro Ranch LLC to preserve 251.94-acres of their 263-acre property with a conservation easement at a public hearing on Thursday, March 5, in Hamilton.

Commissioners approved the use of $315,000 from the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program (OLBP) to be used for the easement. More than 20 people were in attendance to support the conservation easement funding being approved.

A conservation easement is legally binding agreement that places restrictions on development by the owners and future owners of the land permanently to help preserve its natural and historic attributes. Property owners work with a land trust organization to establish terms of the easement, in this case Chesebro Ranch partnered with Bitter Root Land Trust. Bitter Root Land Trust will be responsible for monitoring and making sure the terms are followed for the property.

Ravalli County officials approve Open Lands Bond funds for Chesebro Ranch conservation easement

Teller Wildlife Refuge plants seed of knowledge with no-till drill workshop

Teller Wildlife Refuge is holding its first no-till drill workshop on March 17 at the refuge in Corvallis. The workshop is free and runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the big red barn.

The refuge received $45,000 from the conservation district in 2025 and used the money to invest in a 7-foot-wide Remlinger 2300 No-Till Grain Drill and trailer.

The refuge got the machine as part of a program to rent it out to people in the community, but so far, not many people have rented the equipment. The refuge hopes this workshop will enhance awareness of the no-till drill program and help give people the opportunity to learn more about its benefits and how to use it.

Teller Wildlife Refuge plants seed of knowledge with no-till drill workshop