BLM analysis IDs wilderness areas, sage grouse habitat

[Chris Merkord]

Black Elk Coulee Area 4 in southwest Blaine County is one of 26 areas of BLM land along the Hi-Line with wilderness characteristics, according to the agency. / Courtesy photo/Craig Miller, BLM

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has finished an analysis of 2.4 million acres on Montana’s Hi-Line that identifies 386,000 acres with wilderness characteristics and 1.6 million acres of sage grouse habitat.

In order for land to qualify as having wilderness characteristics, it must be at least 5,000 acres without roads and possess naturalness and outstanding opportunities for either solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation.

View the full article from the Great Falls Tribune