Fire Index is heating up to “Extreme” on the reservation and parts of western Montana (Char-Koosta News)
RONAN — The Fire Index on the Flathead Indian Reservation and portions of western Montana is “Extreme” and it will remain that way for quite some time. Warm weather with temperatures in the 90s and potential thunderstorms by the weekend is predicted for the area.

Mixed emotions at Montana Legacy Project meetings: Praise, questioning greet Plum Creek land deal talks in Lolo, ... (Missoulian)
LOLO - The Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land and the Plum Creek Timber Co., received praise but also some pointed questions the past two nights during public meetings about the Montana Legacy Project in Lolo and Seeley Lake.

Plum Creek to allow public access to Montana land (AP via Yahoo! Finance)
Lumber real estate investment trust Plum Creek Timber Co. Inc. says it is enrolling 500,000 acres of its land in a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks program that allows public access.

After 15 years, state land to reopen for public use (Billings Gazette)
After 15 years of exclusive access, two sections of state land northwest of Billings will be opened to limited public recreational use on Aug. 25.

Pumping up Montana de Oro: Plan would grow park by 65 percent (The San Luis Obispo Tribune)
State Parks is working with three conservation groups to finalize a series of land acquisitions that would add about 5,500 acres to Montaña de Oro State Park and allow the construction of a 20-mile segment of the California Coastal Trail, linking Los Osos with Avila Beach. The additions would come in the form of three large parcels and 10 smaller ones scattered throughout the Irish Hills, a ...