Stretch of Clark Fork protected

The Clark Fork River’s Alberton Gorge, a major attraction for whitewater river runners and a critical stretch for the river’s rainbow and cutthroat trout, has been permanently protected from development.

A complex land exchange a decade in the making was executed last month, bringing key areas along the river into public ownership.

The exchange involved 10 parcels of land throughout western and central Montana and five different parties—NorthWestern Energy, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), the U.S. Forest Service, Five Valleys Land Trust, and the River Network.

The most significant transaction in this region involved the transfer of 306 acres lining the Alberton Gorge from NorthWestern Energy through the land trust to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, according to Mike Hanson, the agency’s director.

The Alberton Gorge is about 35 miles west of Missoula and extends for seven miles through a stretch that has become the prime attraction for trips offered by several whitewater rafting companies.

The rapids rumbling under ……cliffs are the most popular whitewater recreation destination in Western Montana, FWP officials said.

Protecting shorelines of prime recreation streams is increasingly important, said Peter Grubb, owner of River Odysseys West, a Coeur d’Alene based adventure company.

If you look along the rivers at where development is being allowed nowadays, you’ll see that are building houses right up to the brink of the river,” he said. “The old sensible idea of setting back development away from the river banks is being lost to ostentatiousness.

“It’s good for my clients, but it’s also good for the public in general to protect shorelines and maintaining a river’s wild nature.”

The Clark Fork River through the Gorge harbors thriving populations of rainbow and cutthroat trout, and the area provides excellent habitat for elk, deer, wolves, eagles, osprey and other wildlife, FWP officials said.

“This was an important land exchange for the Forest Service’s Northern Region,” states Deputy Regional Forester Kathy McAllister. “While helping to preserve the Alberton Gorge corridor, this land exchange also consolidates national forest system land ownership. This will improve administration and improve efficiency of our land management activities, including fish and wildlife management, public outdoor recreational use, campground maintenance, boundary management, access, and noxious weed management.”