Community Development and Planning
Open Lands Program
In November 2008, voters in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, (the County) approved the Land, Water and Wildlife bond measure. This $10 million general obligation bond is for “…protecting drinking water sources and ground water quality; protecting water quality in and along rivers and streams; conserving working farm, ranch and forest lands; protecting wildlife areas; preserving open lands and natural areas; providing for recreation; and managing growth and development". Funds generated by sales of these bonds are distributed through the Open Lands Program. The primary purpose of the Program is to conserve resources on private lands in Lewis and Clark County that fulfill the objectives of the bond measure.
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) appointed the Citizens Advisory Committee on Open Lands (CAC) to make recommendations on project applications. The CAC is advisory only and the BOCC makes the decision to utilize the bond funds on a particular project.