Flathead County is in the northwest corner of Montana and occupies approximately 5,256 square miles. The county is home to eight mountain ranges including the Cabinet and Salish Ranges in the west, the Whitefish and Livingston Ranges in the north, and the Lewis, Flathead, Swan, and Lewis and Clark Ranges in the east. The North, Middle and South Forks of the Flathead River converge to make up the Upper Flathead River which is joined by the Whitefish River and Stillwater River flowing into Flathead Lake. About half of Flathead Lake is in the southern part of Flathead County. Flathead County, population 102,106, has three incorporated towns: Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls. A small portion of the Flathead Reservation occupies the southernmost tip of the county.
Public lands such as the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness and Glacier National Park dominate the landscape and make up around 81% of the county’s land mass. A significant amount of private land owned by industrial timber companies is devoted to timber production. The remaining privately-owned areas are primarily located in the Flathead Valley proper. Agricultural operations in the county produce crops including hay, wheat, canola, barley, and peas in addition to fruits and vegetables. There are also livestock operations in the county with cattle, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats, and turkeys. The NRCS offices, located in Kalispell and Pablo, offer voluntary technical and financial assistance to private landowners interested in natural resource conservation based on a focused approach using long range planning with local input.
Current Financial Assistance Opportunities for Flathead County Landowners
- Wedge Canyon Fuels Reduction Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Little Bitterroot Lake Forest Health TIP
In addition to these local projects, producers may also apply for statewide programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program, national Environmental Quality Incentives Program initiatives, and conservation easement programs. For more information on these and other programs, see State Programs and Initiatives on the NRCS Montana webpage.
Additional Information
Flathead County Local Working Group
The Flathead County Conservation District is hosting a meeting to gather input from local stakeholders to help prioritize natural resource concerns and guide NRCS funding opportunities.
Montana Focused Conservation
In Montana, NRCS uses a “Focused Conservation” strategy to guide its EQIP investments. Montana Focused Conservation begins with goals identified in local-level Long Range Plans. Based on those plans, NRCS develops Targeted Implementation Plans (TIPs) to guide on-the-ground implementation.
Learn MoreWhat's Available in My Montana County?
Current local financial assistance opportunities in Montana, listed by county. In addition to the local opportunities, producers may also apply for statewide and national programs.
Learn MoreMontana Programs and Application Dates
Program applications are accepted on a continual basis, however, NRCS establishes application ranking dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. Applications received after the ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period.
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