SEELEY LAKE — Staff from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are working together to begin a recreation visioning process for Placid Lake State Park and adjacent TNC lands, located just southwest of the town of Seeley Lake. They are asking for public input early in the process to help understand current issues and priorities and to generate ideas for the future of the area.

For decades, Placid Lake State Park has provided the only public access to the lake, a popular spot for camping, boating, swimming, and fishing.  Many of the adjacent lands along the Placid Lake Road and Owl Creek are managed by TNC and have also been popular spots for camping and other public use for many years.

Recreational use of the entire area continues to increase, and FWP and TNC are partnering so they can consider the lands in the area collectively, how they are used, and what the impacts to the area are. The partners would like to work with the public to begin considering what the area should look like and provide for in the future. 

FWP and TNC are asking for the public’s ideas during these early stages. A public field tour to visit the areas around Placid Lake is planned for Thursday, April 28. To join in, meet at the turnout at the junction of Highway 83 and the Placid Lake Road at 3p.m. 

A public open house will follow on April 28 from (6p.m.-8p.m.) at the Seeley Lake Community Hall. Or join in an online open house May 2 (6p.m.-8p.m.).  Information on the online event will be posted at the project’s web page: fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/placid-lake-visioning-project.

Field tours and open houses will be a chance to learn more about these lands, their history, and current recreational use and trends; to identify issues and concerns; and to assist land managers in developing ideas and priorities for the long-term vision of Placid Lake State Park and surrounding lands.

To find out more about the planning process and to submit ideas, visit: fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/placid-lake-visioning-project.