The McGowan Ranch, located in the Flint Creek Valley, now permanently protects 3,910-acres of montane grasslands, forestlands, and mountain creeks that offer a rich diversity of wildlife habitat and connects to United States Forest Service (USFS) lands of the John Long Mountains. The property is located between the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone ecosystems and is critical to the movement and connectivity of genetically isolated populations of grizzly bears and provides habitat for a variety of terrestrial, avian, and aquatic species. The property is adjacent to another 3,600-acre Five Valleys’ held conservation easement and provides connectivity to that property as well.

The family has stewarded and ranched this land for more than 150 years, and the conservation easement provides long-term security for the ranching operation to continue across future generations while keeping the property intact as working land and wildlife habitat.

Key Project Elements

• Biodiversity Support: Protection of habitats for numerous species of conservation concern, enhancing regional ecological networks.
• Sustainable Use: Continued mixed-use of forestry, agriculture and grazing lands with an emphasis on sustainable practices.
• Cultural and Scenic Value: Monica and Frank Prince are fifth-generation landowners who have a strong emphasis on motivating others in the Flint Creek community to conserve more of the valley by placing conservation easements on their lands.
• Wildlife Habitat: Provides habitat connectivity for grizzly bears and other terrestrial, avian and aquatic species.
• Landscape Connectivity: Enhances habitat connections between the Long John Mountains, the Northern Sapphires, Flint Creek, and Garnet Mountain ranges.

• Total Transaction Cost: $2,716,300
• Atira Conservation Support: $25,000