Shared Stewardship

Lincoln County is one of the most heavily forested counties in the Western United States. Nearly 99% of private lands within the county are classified as forested. The county also ranks in the 97th and 98th percentile for wildfire risk among western counties and includes:

• The largest Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) area in Montana
• The second highest percentage of WUI housing
• The highest number of second homes inside the WUI

To address these challenges, the Lincoln County Port Authority has developed a Shared Stewardship program. This collaborative, cross-boundary approach brings together local, state, and federal agencies to manage WUI and Fire Sheds effectively.

The program is integrated and community-focused, aiming to protect resources while enhancing economic opportunities through stewardship contracting, fuels mitigation, and long-term forest health strategies.