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Campsite within an opening in the forest. A stack of firewood and a steel fire pit can be seen in the foreground.
Placid Lake Placid Lake State Park is a popular spot for camping, boating, swimming and fishing. © Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks

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FWP and The Nature Conservancy to Begin Discussing Recreation Vision for Placid Lake State Park and Adjacent Lands

April 20, 2022 | Seeley Lake, MT

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Staff from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are working together to begin a recreation visioning process for Placid Lake State Park and adjacent TNC lands, located just southwest of the town of Seeley Lake. They are asking for public input early in the process to help understand current issues and priorities and to generate ideas for the future of the area.

For decades, Placid Lake State Park has provided the only public access to the lake, a popular spot for camping, boating, swimming and fishing. Many of the adjacent lands along the Placid Lake Road and Owl Creek are managed by TNC and have also been popular spots for camping and other public use for many years.

Recreational use of the entire area continues to increase, and FWP and TNC are partnering so they can consider the lands in the area collectively, how they are used and what the impacts to the area are. The partners would like to work with the public to begin considering what the area should look like and provide for in the future.

FWP and TNC are asking for the public’s ideas during these early stages. A public field tour to visit the areas around Placid Lake is planned for Thursday, April 28. To join in, meet at the turnout at the junction of Highway 83 and the Placid Lake Road at 3 p.m.

A public open house will follow on April 28 (6 - 8 p.m.) at the Seeley Lake Community Hall. Or join in an online open house on May 2 (6 - 8 p.m.). Information on the online event will be posted at the project’s web page: fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/placid-lake-visioning-project.

Field tours and open houses will be a chance to learn more about these lands, their history and current recreational use and trends; to identify issues and concerns; and to assist land managers in developing ideas and priorities for the long-term vision of Placid Lake State Park and surrounding lands.

To find out more about the planning process and to submit ideas, visit fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/placid-lake-visioning-project.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 76 countries and territories—37 by direct conservation impact and 39 through partners—we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.