FAQs

+ What is the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal?

The Lincoln Prosperity Proposal is a plan to boost local economies, protect public lands, create rural jobs and enhance outdoor recreation for the benefit of all Montanans. The plan focuses on 200,000-acres of national forest lands surrounding Lincoln, Mont., and is broken into three parts: conservation, forest restoration and recreation. Click here for details of the full proposal.

+ Who supports the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal?

We hope you do! It’s a balanced proposal that creates new trails, new job opportunities, new wilderness, and will protect the Lincoln community from catastrophic wildfire. Many individuals and businesses have already shown support for the proposal. See a full list of supporters here.

But many Montanans still don’t know about the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal. That’s where we need your help spreading the word to friends and family. #LincolnProsperity

+ Why should I care about the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal?

As Montanans, we care about our neighbors and seeing all communities prosper. Montanans value access to public lands and want to see our forests managed in a way that benefits future generations. The Lincoln Prosperity Proposal embodies all of these things: helping neighbors, forest health, protecting public lands access, creating new recreation opportunities and bolstering rural economies. Together, with your support, we can make Montana stronger, safer and more accessible for all.

+ How will the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal help the economy?

The Proposal will help the U.S. Forest Service make decisions about stream restoration, timber harvesting and prescribed burns – all efforts that create jobs. Second, the proposal will establish new trails for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and motorized use. The proposal would also designate new prime backcountry hunting and hiking destinations. Visitors stop in for food or a cold beverage at one of the community’s restaurants or taverns, fill up on gas or stay the evening at one of the local motels or hotels in order to recreate the adventure again the next day. Not only does this benefit Lincoln businesses, but it adds to Montana’s overall outdoor recreation economy.

+ Who came up with the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal?

A group of Lincoln residents, business owners, conservationists, mountain bikers, foresters, hunters, anglers, community leaders, land managers, motorized users and many more spent years meeting about once a month at Lambkins Restaurant or the Lincoln Library to come up approaches to best to manage the forest lands surrounding the small-town community. It took open conversations, negotiations, a few disputes, many cups of coffee and a lot of trust to come up with a proposal that everyone could handshake on and felt proud to support.

Now, this group is bringing this proposal to all Montanans, because these national forests belong to everyone. They need all Montanans to support new trail building, new wilderness and new economic opportunities for the Lincoln community, which are outlined in the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal.

+ Where is Lincoln, MT?

Lincoln is located along Highway 200 in the Blackfoot River Valley, about 56 miles northwest of Helena. It is a gateway community to the Continental Divide Trail, and home to the world-renowned Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild outdoor sculpture park. It is also a destination for summer and winter outdoor recreation with its 200,000 acres of surrounding national forest lands and proximity to the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat wilderness areas.

+ I don’t live in Lincoln. How does it impact me?

While these national forests surround the Lincoln community, they belong to all of us. They’re managed by the U.S. Forest Service for the benefit of everyone. The residents of Lincoln are hopeful that Montanans from across the state will come to Lincoln to explore the new trails on snowmobile, foot, horseback, ATV and mountain bike. This proposal will preserve the water quality in the spring creeks for fishing and create new wilderness for the ambitious hunter and angler. And while you’re visiting, maybe you’ll eat at one of their restaurants or swap stories of the adventure at a local tavern. Plus, turning a community-built proposal for public lands into law requires an act of Congress. That means garnering the support of Montana’s Congressional delegation.

+ Doesn’t the U.S. Forest Service manage these forests?

Yes, the agency does! The Forest Service manages our forests in accordance with the laws passed by Congress and must balance many competing mandates. These lands are also owned by the public, managed using taxpayer dollars. Therefore, the public gets a say in how they are managed. Our proposal benefits from years of agency management, and incorporates many elements from the existing management plan. However, our plan is an improvement. It is a step forward from the status quo. And we hope all Montanans join us in asking Congress to adopt the proposal, so that the Forest Service may begin managing the forests around Lincoln in accordance with this proposal.

+ How do I get more information about the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal?

To follow the campaign or to learn how to get involved, sign up for our mailing list. We promise to only email you when it’s important or there are new developments. If you have questions that are not answered on this site, please drop us a note! Send us an email at lincolnmtprosperity@gmail.com. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

+ How can I support the Lincoln Prosperity proposal?

• Learn about the proposal. Send us your questions. We love to hear feedback. We will get back to you as quickly as we can.

• Support the proposal. If you support rural economies, public lands and expanded outdoor recreation, we hope you add your name here to the growing list of Montanans who support the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal.

• Spread the word! Tell your friends and family about the Lincoln Prosperity Proprosal. Post on social media. (Don’t forget to use the hashtag #LincolnProsperity) Submit a letter to the opinion section of your local newspaper.

• Ask your elected representatives to support the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal. Let them know that this proposal increases public-land access for all Montanans. Rural economies, public lands access and outdoor recreation are three important pillars of the Montana way of life. We need their support today.

Contact:
Sen. Jon Tester
Sen. Steve Daines
Congressman Greg Gianforte