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GREAT FALLS - A land management plan that could ban motorized travel on more than 12,000 acres near Lincoln is angering some users of all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Most of the land is private property owned by the family of Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. Although motorized use technically has not been allowed on the land, the family historically has allowed public use of the property's more than 100 miles of logging roads.

The rest of the land is a patchwork of property owned by the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and The Nature Conservancy.

Over the years, a growing number of motorized-vehicle users have traversed the area, said Bob Henderson, a wildlife biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Missoula. The result is an extensive system of new trails, the spread of noxious weeds, and mud bogs in wetlands and creek beds.

“There has been a fair amount of resource damage,” Henderson said.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks is working on a new management plan with the landowners to protect the property and wildlife from further damage. The plan would allow snowmobiles, but prohibit motorized access to the property, Henderson said.

County and Forest Service roads currently open to motorized travel would remain open under the plan, and existing cabin sites on DNRC property would not be affected.

Doug Richards of Lincoln said he is concerned about what he feels is a trend toward shutting out motorized use. Lincoln's economy thrives on such business.

“We depend on that,” said Richards, who owns and operates the Wheel Inn.

Jeff Dawson, owner of Lincoln Machine, suggested a gate system for the property that allows ATVs and motorcycles, but limits four-wheel-drive vehicles. He said most of the damage he's seen resulted from a few irresponsible people driving trucks and other four-wheel-drive vehicles.

“People have ran up there for years with no restrictions,” said Ray Smith, a member of the Ponderosa Snow Warriors and an off-road user. “I would like to have a chance to educate some of the people who are causing these problems.”

Similar agreements are in place in the Blackfoot Valley, Henderson said.

“This isn't an anti-ATV or four-wheel-drive effort,” he said. “It's one to try and support the landowners and improve habitat for wildlife.”

The land includes grizzly bear habitat and summer and winter range for elk and moose.

“With road management in there, hunting would improve,” Henderson said.

The plan may be established as soon as late summer. Maps would be available at that time, and signs posted in the area would outline the uses allowed.

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