American Whitewater played a pivotal role early in the efforts to protect 306 acres of former Montana Power Company lands along the Clark Fork River’s beautiful Alberton Gorge, along with excellent partners. Alberton Gorge is a popular Class III whitewater reach west of Missoula that runs parallel to I-90. It is home to a bustling rafting and boating scene, excellent surfing nearly every day of the year, and ample fish and wildlife.
In October 1998, River Network’s then president Phil Wallin contacted American Whitewater requesting financial assistance with a land acquisition on Montana’s Clark Fork River. “We were in a pinch, because we had to come up with serious money to buy some time to put a land exchange together,” Wallin said. “So we turned to the people who knew the river best – the private boaters and the organization that serves them, American Whitewater.” With the help of the Kenney foundation, American Whitewater kicked in $15,000. River Network obtained another $35,000 from the Conservation Alliance. This combined $50,000 secured a five-year option to purchase Montana Power’s 306 acres adjacent to the Clark Fork River in Alberton Gorge.
This transaction was anything but simple: The property, then valued at $1.4 million, was at the heart of a land transaction between the Lolo National Forest, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and Montana Power Company. The land swap and sale ensured that the State of Montana could protect eight miles of undeveloped river front property for the dual purposes of public enjoyment and resource protection. In 2003, due to organizational changes, River Network transferred responsibility for completing this transaction over to Five Valleys Land Trust in Missoula. On November 30, 2004, the acquisition was completed and the Gorge lands were transferred to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
American Whitewater is highly appreciative of Peter Dayton’s vision and decade of effort as well as Greg Tollefson’s willingness to take this project on for Five Valleys Land Trust. American Whitewater also appreciates the vision and commitment for river corridor land protection exhibited by River Network, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Lolo National Forest, Montana Power Company and Northwestern Energy. Thank you for creating a legacy on Alberton Gorge!