Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is opening up a public comment period as part of an environmental review for American Prairie’s proposal to change the class of livestock on one of its parcels from cattle to bison.

Since 2001, American Prairie has worked to create the largest wildlife reserve in the lower 48. That plan includes grazing 900 head of bison on state and federal lands. But legal seesawing between land managers, government agencies and American Prairie has put that plan into limbo. MTPR’s Victoria Traxler sat down with the Billings Gazette Outdoors Editor Brett French to learn where things currently stand for American Prairie bison, and what may come next.

According to a recent report issued by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Montana’s snowpack sits below average for this time of year.

Western Montana’s drought conditions have improved significantly since late summer. North-central Montana’s drought status is changing too, but for the worse.

A nonprofit nature reserve in Montana is suing the state. American Prairie argues the state needs to decide whether to grant their six-year-old request for permits to graze bison on state lands.

The City of Helena next week begins a two-month long hazardous fuels reduction project.. That means portions of some local hiking trails will be temporarily closed.

Land managers are asking Montanans to be extra vigilant about fire safety heading into the long Independence Day weekend.

Montana officials and the federal government have agreed to co-manage a section of national forest lands.

Dozens of rural communities are reaching a critical point with infrastructure at risk of crumbling. Many small towns can’t afford upgrades to things like water lines and sewers on their own. Limited funds leave some towns searching for solutions.

Two people with Montana ties have been tapped to support the Trump administration’s forest management, wildfire prevention and conservation efforts.