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June 25, 2010 Missoula City Open Space Land Program 435 Ryman Street Missoula, MT 59802 Missoula County Open Space Land Program 200 W Broadway Missoula, MT 59802 RE: Quebec Deschamps Creek Conservation Easement To Whom It May Concern: The Clark Fork Coalition appreciates the opportunity to write in full support of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s funding requests to the Missoula City and County Open Space Land Programs to fund the Quebec Deschamps Creek Conservation Easement. The Coalition believes the proposal to permanently protect 1,036 acres of wildlife habitat, open space and agricultural lands near Missoula offers an immense opportunity to the public for preserving intact open spaces, healthy waters and thriving communities in the Clark Fork River watershed. The Clark Fork Coalition is an organization supported by 1,500 members dedicated to protecting and restoring the 22,000 square-mile Clark Fork watershed, which drains the rivers and streams of western Montana and northern Idaho. This easement would not only provide a myriad of benefits to wildlife and wildlife habitat, it would also protect riparian habitat on a small tributary that provides cold water to O’Keefe Creek, a tributary to the Clark Fork River that supports a population of genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout. The Coalition applauds this application and the efforts of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to maintain and protect fish and wildlife habitat, working landscapes and open spaces that protect our watershed’s celebrated rivers and streams. Sincerely, Karen Knudsen Executive Director PO Box 7593 Missoula, MT 59807 406/542-0539 Phone 406/542-5632 Fax