HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-18-25 Pulblic Comment - A. Craighead - bikefill-urban parks and forestry boardFrom:April Craighead
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]bikefill-urban parks and forestry board
Date:Thursday, December 18, 2025 11:28:48 AM
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Dear Urban Parks and Forestry Board members, Addi Jadin, Mitch Overton, Bozeman City
Commission, and Adam Johnson (GVLT),
I would like to make a few comments regarding the Bikefill project prior to tonight’s meeting,
which I plan to attend. I have been outdoor enthusiast for many years here in Bozeman and
have greatly benefited from the increased trail building by GVLT and I applaud their new efforts
in building the new Bikefill park. This land has been degraded in the past and new bike trails will
be a benefit to the community however I do have some reservations about some of the trails
GVLT has proposed within the complex. While this is a relatively small parcel of land it abuts
undeveloped lands that wildlife utilize for daily and seasonal movements (to the North and
East of Story Mill rd). Areas adjacent to the Bikefill area have been highlighted in Bozeman’s
Sensitive Lands project as important to wildlife and both Churn Ck and portions of the
intermittent creek on the northern portion of the property have been highlighted with riparian
setbacks. Development of the high density of trails will definitely disrupt wildlife movements
and utilization of the property. It is well established that mountain biking is very disruptive to
wildlife movements and habitat usage. I would hope that at a minimum, that bird surveys be
conducted on the property prior to construction and that any construction near streams or
wetlands take place after the breeding season has concluded. Optimally a wildlife assessment
should be conducted during the winter and spring to determine baseline wildlife data for the
area.
I hope that the city and GVLT will adhere to the newly adopted City of Bozeman Parks,
Recreation, and Active Transportation plan, the Gallatin Valley Sensitive Lands Plan, the
Wetlands Code Update, and the Bozeman Community Plan 2020 provide guidance for the
incorporation of required setbacks and buffer zones for wildlife, watercourses, and wetlands. I
would suggest the city and GVLT take into consideration the points I make below for the benefit
of wildlife.
1. Elimination of the South side trail along Churn Creek to allow wildlife an untraveled
space between the creek and property line fence.
2. Include Maximum setbacks or greater around Churn Creek ( best practices= 100-
150 ft setbacks)(City= 50 feet from creek, 25 from wetland )
3. Eliminate the portion of the north perimeter trail closest to the unnamed northern
intermittent stream and the western boggy area
4. Include maximum setbacks on unnamed northern intermittent stream
5. Mapping of wetland and watercourses to establish baseline data before
construction: showing Sensitive Land designation, etc.
Thank you for your considerations,
April
April Craighead
Executive Director
Wildlife Biologist
Craighead Institute
201 So. Wallace Ave
Suite B2D
Bozeman, MT. 59715
406 585-8705
april@craigheadinstitute.org