HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-23-25 Public Comment - C. Nixon - Burke Park Traverse Trail Response Letter - Sacajawea Audubon SocietyFrom:Chris Nixon <pres@sacajaweaaudubon.org>
To:chet@gvlt.org; Mitchell Overton
Cc:Joey Morrison; Jennifer Madgic; Douglas Fischer; ebodie@bozeman.net; Bozeman Public Comment; Chuck Winn;
Terry Cunningham
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Burke Park Traverse Trail Response Letter - Sacajawea Audubon Society
Date:Friday, May 23, 2025 3:03:44 PM
Attachments:SAS Burke Park Traverse Trail Response 05-23-25.pdf
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Dear Mitch and Chet,
Please find the attached letter regarding the Burke Park Traverse Trail Response.
Your immediate attention is requested.
Thank you!
Chris Nixon
President, Sacajawea Audubon Society406-544-4901
SAS Burke Park Traverse Trail Response 05-23-25.pdf
PO Box 1711 Bozeman, Montana 59771-1711
Sacajaweaaudubon.org
Sacajawea Audubon Society
Board Members: Chris Nixon Doug McSpadden Mikaela Howie Loreene Reid John Edwards Emma Narotzky Aaron Clausen
Vicki Saab Frank Marchak Ken Sinay Ben Goodheart Hallie Nienhaus Bret Davis
May 23, 2025
Mitch Overon
Director
City of Bozeman, Parks and Recreation Department
Chet Work
Executive Director
Gallatin Valley Land Trust
Dear Director Overton and Executive Director Work,
Sacajawea Audubon Society (SAS) is requesting that the destruction of sensitive habitat, at this critical
time of year, at Burke Park be immediately halted and addressed. Please reach out to the SAS Board of
Directors to collaborate on an agreement to prevent the loss of these vital Bozeman resources.
Accommodations for people, wildlife, and citizens that value and need wildlife can be reached.
Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT), and presumably the City of Bozeman (City), are currently cutting a trail
across the west-facing slope of Peets Hill/Burke Park. We ask that the bird nesting season be included as
a significant consideration when planning the timing of trail cutting and construction. SAS is pro-trails.
Our members use and enjoy the trails within the area. We advocate for appropriately designed trails
that are in balance with the natural resources and wildlife habitat. SAS board members have served on
the GVLT Trails Committee, and SAS Officers have headed trail crews in Yellowstone National Park and
various state recreation areas. Therefore, we seek a collaboration between habitat preservation and
trail accessibility.
This area is likely the largest and most intact piece of functional native plant and wildlife habitat in
proximity to downtown Bozeman. The trail that GVLT is currently constructing cuts through aspen
stands, grassy slopes, and shrubs that are significant bird nesting habitat as well as winter forage and
shelter for a number of wildlife species. Additional concerns of the current trail plan is soil disturbance
which will both kill native plants as well as increase the presence of exotic, invasive, and noxious weeds.
Nesting requirements vary greatly between bird species. Some nest only in tall or short shrubs, others
on the ground at the base of shrubs, some only on open ground. Not all bird species utilize trees for
nesting, as some mistakenly believe. So avoiding trees of 3” or greater in diameter does not prevent
impact to nesting birds. Documented bird species breeding in the impacted area include: Spotted
Towhee, House Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Northern Flicker, Dark-eyed
Junco, Vesper Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Western Tanager, and various owls (including Pygmy, Saw-whet,
and Great Horned Owls). It is also implicit that various mammals and insects depend on these impacted
native plant communities. Lastly, it should be obvious that we, as a community, benefit from the
presence of these non-human inhabitants that also call Peets Hill home.
SAS Burke Park Traverse Trail Response Letter 5/23/25 page 2
The current trail cutting and construction of the Burke Park Traverse is occurring during the highly
sensitive bird nesting season (generally considered April 1 - July 15 under the Migratory Bird Treaty
Act). If timing of bird nesting season had been included as a consideration during trail planning, the
destruction of nests, eggs, nestlings, and nesting habitat could have been avoided. However, the
current trail construction plan is unnecessarily destructive and is in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty
Act of 1918.
Titled as the “Burke Park Traverse”: https://www.gvlt.org/news/burke-park-traverse on the GVLT
website, there is an image showing the location of this project, but the image is inadequate and not
labeled to identify what trail sections already exist and which are to be added. It also does not show any
aspect of the finished size or design of this trail.
The current damaged slope and cut trail is roughly 4 to 6 feet wide. When considering the impact of
dispersed material, in places impacts up to 20 feet wide. It also includes substantial vertical cuts, up to 3
feet, which destroys habitat for insects, birds and forage for mammal species.
Public communication regarding trail siting has been inadequate. For trail construction that runs nearly
the entire length of Burke Park, advertised and advanced communication with the public would be
appropriate. There is minimal signage (one obscure sign located on a social trail down slope) alerting to
the trail cutting plans. As far as we have observed, there are no signs regarding the magnitude of this
work in the two main parking areas or on the information kiosks.
On the GVLT website, there is reference to a "Burke Park Master Plan” from 2003. Concerned citizens
would likely agree that considerations and sensitivities have changed since the initial proposal and
therefore an open public comment period would have been relevant. SAS board members were not
aware of an open public comment period and we would have hoped to be directly informed if one had
been available.
Over the past fifteen years, Sacajawea Audubon Society (SAS) has communicated both formally and
informally with GVLT as well as the City of Bozeman to conserve bird and wildlife habitat for all
residents. Unfortunately, we feel that the history of verbal agreements and understandings between our
organizations has not been honored by GVLT in regard to the Burke Park Traverse. Past communications,
including agreements that recognize the benefit of consultation between the City of Bozeman, GVLT,
and SAS when new trails are proposed, have not been realized. Two examples of that lack of realization
are completed trail placements at East Gallatin Recreation Area (Glen Lake Rotary Park) and the Triple
Tree Trail.
The opinion of the SAS board is that the construction of this trail should be halted
immediately. Construction/destruction should not be continued until the public has the opportunity to
contribute to a resolution that minimizes the impacts to native plants, wildlife and bird habitat.
Whatever construction is determined to be appropriate, hopefully with agreed upon changes, should
not be resumed until after the current nesting season of migratory birds.
The SAS board recognizes that such a delay would not permit the completion of the Burke Park Traverse
until well after the National Trails Day celebration. We understand that this delay may be a
disappointment for some. However, trail construction during the sensitive bird nesting period would
result in unnecessary damage to shared and valued natural resources that could have been easily
mitigated. We trust that with a few well-considered adjustments and appropriately timed construction,
SAS Burke Park Traverse Trail Response Letter 5/23/25 page 3
all visitors to Burke Park could enjoy and celebrate an altered and considerate version of the Burke Park
Traverse.
Considerations include: actual need, design, maintenance, habitat compatibility/incompatibility,
restoration, timing of construction (after breeding season), direct impacts to native plants and wildlife as
well as perceived human benefits.
We suggest that GVLT balance both the social need for expanded trail networks with the ecosystem
services provided by areas like the west slope of Peets Hill. Habitat loss is one of the primary drivers of
rapid population decline in bird species. The ultimate goal is to achieve an acceptable balance that
benefits both people and wildlife, and that includes the inherent value of intact natural areas for the
benefit of both people and wildlife.
Again, we, the board members of Sacajawea Audubon Society, request that the destruction of habitat at
Burke Park and the construction of this trail be halted until further communications take place and a
collaborative agreement is reached that makes accommodations for both people and wildlife.
To address these issues today, I am available for you to contact me by phone.
On behalf of the SAS Board of Directors and membership,
Chris Nixon
President
Sacajawea Audubon Society
pres@sacajaweaaudubon.org
(406)544-4901
cc: Bozeman City Manager, City Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Commissioners, City of Bozeman Public
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