Exposing the Gateway Conservation Alliance’s tactics and proposing a healthy alternative. In early June of 2023, our family’s gravel pit project was announced. What should have been a constructive conversation about community development quickly devolved into a textbook example of the activist playbook at work. Leading this charge is the… Read More »The Propagandist Playbook
Oh, the lessons we learn in life. The gravel pit debacle has been an enlightening experience, revealing new depths of manipulation and corruption, particularly through the abuse of legal processes. The issue of “lawfare”—using legal systems to stifle legitimate business operations—has become a serious impediment in Montana. Consider a scenario… Read More »The Cost of Lawfare
How Misguided Environmental Activism Can Backfire and Harm Communities As I reflect on the latest lawsuit celebrated by the Gateway Conservation Alliance, I can’t help but wonder what the true outcomes of their efforts will be. They parade around as champions of environmental protection, but beneath the surface, what are… Read More »Unintended Consequences
Irony in Action: How False Claims Could Be Lowering Your Property Values The objections from the Gateway Conservation Alliance of our gravel pit project are primarily based on concerns that seem to unravel when closely examined for concrete evidence or consistency. Over time it has become obvious that the driving… Read More »Property Values
“Measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.” James Madison Our well-funded opponents at the Gateway Conservation Alliance have initiated legal action against the Gallatin County Commissioners for… Read More »Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
Throughout this challenging process, I’ve had many enlightening interactions with my neighbors, revealing that we share many common concerns. These discussions often begin with skepticism and distrust toward myself and the gravel pit project. This reaction is understandable, given the largely one-sided media narratives and the tactics employed by some… Read More »Common Ground
Environmental activism is a field ripe with passion and purpose, aimed at safeguarding our habitat for future generations. Yet, it’s not without its controversies. Increasingly, some activist groups are wielding exaggerated environmental claims as a weapon, purportedly to protect nature, but also, we argue, to manipulate public opinion and stymie… Read More »Choose Your Enemies Wisely
In the complex dance of environmental advocacy, intentions matter as much as the arguments themselves. Sometimes, what appears as a noble pursuit of ecological preservation can cloak more self-serving or misinformed aims. A recent squabble involving the Gateway Conservation Alliance’s opposition to a new gravel pit near Montana’s Gallatin River… Read More »Environmentalish
I remember vividly the moment of revelation at the Gateway Conservation Alliance meeting in July 2023, when the leadership unexpectedly confessed that their publicly voiced environmental concerns were merely a facade to oppose the location of our gravel pit project. This admission was a jolt, revealing that the arguments about… Read More »The Great Deception
In the heart of the Gallatin Gateway, a contentious debate unfolds over the future of a local gravel pit, viewed by critics as a disruptive element in the natural landscape. These opponents, who identify strongly with environmental conservation, have voiced strong opposition against the project. However, a closer look reveals… Read More »Loving Nature to Death
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality approved the Open Cut Mining Permit and EA for the Black Site in Gallatin Gateway, Montana. Standard Permit Application # 3462. Our hope is to begin work on the project in the fall of 2024. Legal challenges may postpone our anticipated start date, and… Read More »DEQ Approved Permit
The Gallatin River is the subject of The Montana Headwaters Legacy Act pending now in Congress. It would designate much of the Gallatin as a wild and scenic river. Montana Department of Environmental Quality probably shouldn’t approve any permit for an invasive activity on land adjacent to the river at this time. And… Read More »Troubled Waters
Imagine, just for a moment, what if the lens through which some of our opponents view the gravel pit and its implications for the Gallatin Gateway community shifted from one of skepticism to one of informed understanding? The persistent chorus of concerns coming from activist groups—ranging from the pit drying… Read More »I Can Only Imagine
In recent discussions, some have suggested that our farm ground should be placed under a Conservation Easement, a decision that requires careful consideration of several often-overlooked factors. Conservation Easements, voluntary agreements between landowners and land trusts or other entities, have been a cornerstone in the growth of the land trust… Read More »Conservation Chaos
In the ironic tale of Montana’s small farms, our beloved farmers and ranchers face a conundrum that would baffle even the wisest of sages. Picture this: a quaint farm, where the tractors are more expensive than a house, costing an arm and a leg. Operating expenses continue to rise. It’s… Read More »Would You Rather?