Ruby Valley Strategic Alliance Appreciates the Montana Delegation for Standing Up for Montana's Public Lands

The Upper Ruby in southwest Montana

The Ruby Valley Strategic Alliance recently submitted an opinion piece about keeping public lands in public hands. It was published in the Montana Standard, Billings Gazette, and the Dillon Tribune.

We are dedicated to the responsible and balanced management of public lands as they are intrinsically connected to the economic engine of the private lands in the Ruby Valley. See the full opinion below.

Montana is united: Public lands belong in public hands

By Rick Sandru, Emily Cleveland, and Les Gilman on behalf of the full membership of the Ruby Valley Strategic Alliance

As members of the Ruby Valley Strategic Alliance (RVSA), we would like to extend our appreciation to the Montana Congressional delegation for their strong opposition to efforts to sell our national public lands. As other Republicans in Congress consider the sale of public lands to help pay for the budget reconciliation bill, Senator Daines and Representative Zinke drew a red line opposing public land sell off in public statements. Senator Daines and Senator Sheehy voted to prevent the sale of public lands in the Senate budget resolution.

These recent actions are important, and there is more to be done. We strongly encourage our entire delegation to persuade their colleagues in Congress to abandon short-sighted efforts to sell public lands to balance the budget.

The RVSA is a diverse group of multi-generation ranchers, grazing associations, landowners, conservationists and community members focused on maintaining and stewarding private and public lands in the Ruby River watershed. We know from firsthand experience that public lands are integral to Montana’s economy and way of life. And that public lands unite a broad cross section of Montanans, like no other issue can.

In the Ruby and across southwest Montana, private ranch lands and public lands are inextricably tied. Wildlife roam from the public lands in the Snowcrest and Gravelly Mountains across ranches that have been in the same families for generations. Headwaters streams in these same mountains feed the Ruby River with cold, clean water that supports fish, agriculture, communities and recreation.

Every spring, cattle move from private lands to public lands in the mountains, returning to the valley’s working ranches in the fall. These ranches depend on grazing permits on the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest and BLM lands while providing habitat, migration corridors and open space in the Ruby Valley that is critical for wildlife.

Montana’s way of life is defined by our ability to hike, hunt, fish, and experience the outdoors on our wealth of public lands. We are fortunate to have such incredible access to national forests, national parks, and other public lands. It’s part of what makes being an American so great. It’s a treasured part of our heritage, something we aim to pass down to future generations so they can continue to experience the open spaces and wild lands that are so valuable to our Montana way of life.

Access to public lands also supports a thriving outdoor recreation economy in Madison and Beaverhead Counties. All multiple uses of public lands -- grazing, energy development, timber, wilderness, cultural and historical resource protection, and recreation -- contribute to Montana’s economy. Public land is essential for many businesses across the state. And once our access to these public lands is gone, we will never get it back.

While there might be narrow, specific examples where selling a small piece of public land makes sense – a building that is no longer used or a small parcel adjacent to town – these opportunities should be thoroughly analyzed, include community input, and result in a clear public benefit. They should not be driven by a goal of maximizing revenue.

Our national forests, national parks, and other lands that belong to all of us should not be reduced to financial assets to be traded in balancing a budget. Protecting our access to these public lands is a critical issue for all Montanans. We are grateful for the Congressional delegation’s leadership on this issue and urge them to continue to carry Montana’s united voice to DC: public lands belong in public hands.

Additional members signing this editorial include: John Anderson, Ruby Dell Ranch, Neil Barnosky, Silver Spring Ranch, Jim Berkey, The Nature Conservancy, Duke Gilman, Madison County Commission, Dan Durham, Ruby Habitat Foundation, Chris Edgington, MT Trout Unlimited, Kathryn Eklund, The Wilderness Society, Gary Giem, Giem Angus Ranch, John Helle, Helle Livestock, Chad Klinkenborg, The Montana Land Reliance, George Trischman, Donna McDonald, Upper Canyon Ranch Outfitters, Sally Schrank, The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Ruby Valley Conservation District