Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Pictured is one of the many beautiful views from Waterloo Grove.
Rising waters on the Jefferson River led the National Weather Service to issue a Flood Advisory warning from Waterloo to Silver Star to just north of Twin Bridges on MT HWY 41. The warning was in effect from Friday to Monday morning. Pictured is the rising water Friday afternoon near the Waterloo Grove location.
Local outdoor enthusiasts should soon have a new walk in fishing and floater's camping site on the Jefferson River.
Members of the Jefferson River Canoe Trail are currently in the process of acquiring nearly 31 acres of property near the Parsons Bridge in Waterloo.
According to Trail President Tom Elpel, the Citizens Advisory Board for the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust has supported a $195,000 grant application for the purchase of Waterloo Grove. He said the board will meet and make a final decision at their June 29 meeting. Elpel is hoping to close on the property in late July.
Elpel said they are currently raising the other $66,000 needed for the land acquisition. A private donor has pledged to match every donation up to $15,000 for the purchase. Elpel added he was very pleased with the support and donations they have received so far.
According to Elpel, Waterloo Grove will serve as a temporary name for the property, and they plan to invite Whitehall students to name the site in the fall based on Lewis and Clark Journals.
He said the site would serve as a convenient walk-in fishing access site and picnic area serving the Jefferson Valley.
"The property features a diverse mix of cottonwood, juniper, water birch, willow, and rich forage, plus lots of whitetail deer. At 30.53 acres, it will be the only substantial piece of riparian public land on the upper Jefferson where people can walk their dog, go bird watching, or hunt for morel mushrooms," he said. "Securing Waterloo Grove for the public ensures that future generations can enjoy traditional freedoms while reducing public-private conflicts... we recently lost vital public land on the upper Jefferson River due to a land exchange between the state and a private landowner. Acquiring Waterloo Grove will help restore public land on the upper Jefferson."
For more information or to donate visit http://www.JeffersonRiver.org.
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