Jake Creek Road, Powell County, Montana
Jake Creek Road Summary
Similar to the situation on County Rd #71 in Madison County, two PLWA members in Deer Lodge have been trying to get locked gates on the Jake Creek county road that provides access to the Spotted Dog WMA area re-opened for decades. That a county road is illegally blocked is not in question, but the resolution to the problem is complicated.
The road has been re-routed over the years and FWP's management of the Spotted Dog WMA will also be affected by any potential resolutions. There are multiple parties involved (County Commissioners, District Attorney’s office, DNRC, MT FWP), and work with landowners, the public, and PLWA is a delicate process.
PLWA became involved in September of 2020 by reaching out to the Powell County Commission to assess their position regarding locked gates affecting access to large swathes of public land in the WMA. The situation indicates many complicated pieces, and there is still a lot of work to be done. However, progress is being made. The efforts of our local members to get needed information and their persistence to encourage the local County Commissioners to act is hugely inspiring.
UPDATE: July, 2022
The Powell County Commission delivered on their commitment to reopen the Jake Creek Road this spring. This historic county road that runs between Deer Lodge and Avon and bisects the Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area (WMA) had been illegally gated for decades. It reopened to public use on May 15th, in concert with the seasonal opening of the WMA. The County has almost completed with needed road improvements tied to reopening. Those include replacement of several gates with cattle guards, bridge repair, culvert installation, road surface improvements, and construction of a new road section. The road will be subject of temporary closures in conjunction with 4-year road/elk study. We thank local PLWA members for their dogged pursuit of this reopening and Powell County for fulfilling their legal responsibility by removing obstructions to public access on a county road.
UPDATE: November, 2021
On November 17th, 2021,The Powell County Commission tabled a proposed resolution on the opening of Jake Creek Road until spring 2022. This delayed consideration allows time for MSU Extension to seek funding for the road/elk study and for Powell County to conduct limited road improvements in spring 2022 in advance of road opening.
UPDATE: September, 2021
The PLWA Board decided to maintain a neutral position with regards to the study and communicated this decision to Powell County. The Board considered to study to be outside the scope of PLWA’s mission to monitor and address illegal closures of public access, and passed along oversight of this issue to our partners. PLWA will monitor the study process if it goes forward to ensure the study is not used as a mechanism to delay road opening.
UPDATE: August, 2021
Powell County-MSU Extension Service proposes a road opening/elk study to Powell County Commission and hosts meetings to start-up a study collaborative stakeholder group. The Service reached out to PLWA for input on the study and participation in the stakeholder group. PLWA Secretary Carol Fox and local PLWA members participate in initial meetings and discussions with County about this study. On September 27, 2021 the Commission voted 2-1 to “green-light” the study for pursuit of funding. You can read the agenda materials about the study for the September 30, 2021 stakeholder group meeting here.
UPDATE: July, 2021
On July 6th, 2021 Powell County hosts a road viewing of Jake Creek Road between Deer Lodge and Avon to assess the Road’s condition and what improvements are needed to reopen it. Representatives of the County, FWP, DNRC, and PLWA participate on the tour.
UPDATE: April, 2021
On April 9th, Powell County attorney Kathryn McEnery writes a letter, updating DNRC and FWP agents on the developing situation regarding the Jake Creek Road situation. She references the research PLWA has provided to the County and PLWA's discussions with County Commissioners. It seems that there is positive movement forward with all parties sharing insights and research, which is an encouraging development. Read the letter here.
UPDATE: February - May, 2021
Local PLWA members and PLWA Secretary Carol Fox meet with County officials to discuss next steps and their proposal for road reopening. You can read this joint proposal here.
UPDATE: January, 2021
On January 26th, 2021, PLWA Secretary Carol Fox authored a response letter providing research documentation regarding the issue of blocked access on Jake Creed Road. Read the letter and research information here.
UPDATE: October, 2020
Powell County Attorney Kathryn McEnery responds to PLWA President Bernard Lea’s September 2020 letter regarding the Spotted Dog access issue. In this message, Ms. McEnery requests further information, and access research being conducted by PLWA to clarify the issues at hand. You can read Ms. McEnery’s letter here.
UPDATE: September, 2020
PLWA President Bernard Lea reaches out to Powell County attorney Katheryn McEnery to highlight the issue of limited access at Jake Creek Road, encumbering public access to the Spotted Dog WMA in Powell County. Read the letter here.
