Kootenai River Recreation Framework
The Kootenai River Recreation Framework is now complete—marking a major step forward for recreation access, safety, and coordination in Lincoln County.
Developed in partnership with Lincoln County and guided by a regional Steering Committee, this effort transforms a complex, multi-jurisdictional river corridor into a clear, actionable path forward—grounded in data, shaped by community input, and ready for implementation.
About the Project
Spanning more than 50 miles of river, this project brought together Lincoln County, a diverse Steering Committee, and community stakeholders to address long-standing challenges around access, safety, and coordination.
Through a detailed inventory of 13 access sites, community survey input, and cross-agency collaboration, the framework identifies practical, prioritized improvements—from ADA accessibility upgrades and signage systems to long-term infrastructure investments.
The result is a shared roadmap that equips local partners with the tools, data, and alignment needed to move projects forward with confidence.
Our Approach
Outdoor Community Partners specializes in helping communities navigate complex outdoor projects—bringing together stakeholders, clarifying priorities, and building the technical foundation needed to move from ideas to implementation.
For the Kootenai River, that meant working closely with Lincoln County and the Steering Committee to:
- Conduct a comprehensive access and safety inventory across 13 locations
- Align agencies and partners across local, state, and federal jurisdictions to create a foundation for coordinated decision-making across agencies
- Develop realistic, cost-informed recommendations
- Create a phased roadmap for implementation and funding
Looking Ahead
With the framework complete, the focus now shifts to implementation.
Many recommendations are already positioned for near-term action, while others provide a clear path for future investment, partnerships, and coordination.
Outdoor Community Partners remains committed to supporting Lincoln County and its partners as this work moves forward—helping turn prioritized recommendations into on-the-ground improvements.
Complex projects require more than ideas—they require alignment, clarity, and a path forward. That’s what this framework delivers.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee for the Kootenai River Recreation Framework includes representation from Lincoln County; Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; Summit Independent Living; David Thompson Search and Rescue; and Linehan Outfitting.
Outdoor Community Partners Planning Team
Tom Lang
Tom is an outdoor recreation planner who enjoys working with communities across Montana. Prior to opening Stewardship Research & Consulting, he worked for multiple land management agencies and taught courses at the University of Montana. Through a relationship-based planning approach, he works with community leaders and land managers to address the cross-jurisdictional challenges of outdoor recreation on a regional scale. The goal of his work is to improve community access to the outdoors by enhancing infrastructure and public policy that promotes safety and local economic interests.
Diane Conradi
Diane Conradi is the founder and CEO of Outdoor Community Partners. As an experienced attorney, founder and advisor to Whitefish Legacy Partners/Whitefish Trail, Montana State Parks Foundation, and appointed member to Montana’s first State Parks and Recreation Board she has in-depth experience in creating, enhancing and sustaining high quality nature-based recreation access that supports economic vitality, community health and quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
Kara Maplethorpe
Kara works with the Heart of the Rockies Initiative. She is known for her homemade orange rolls and her ability to boil water in a paper cup over a campfire, which comes in handy more often than you might think. At work, she enjoys listening, learning, and collaborating with people of various perspectives, as well as finding opportunities to amplify community voices while setting the stage for future generations. To Kara, every day is a new adventure with a lesson to learn, a river to canoe, or a book to read. She emphasizes this belief by commonly quoting the movie UP: “Adventure is out there!” Kara earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resources wildlife management and biology from Northland College.
Jen Saucier
Jen is a designer with Fir & Larch Creative, and entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in the tourism and outdoor recreation industry, a former Whitefish City Councilor, and an avid outdoor enthusiast. Her background and work in design, marketing, branding, wayfinding, and map-making helps local communities navigate the public process and tell the unique story of their place. Whether it’s work for a small town in rural Montana or for internationally-recognized UNESCO World Heritage sites, she helps communities tell their stories, foster stewardship, and connect people to the places they call home.
Take your community project from idea to action.
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Community Support
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Learning Experiences
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Events
Explore our events such as the Outdoor Recreation Summit and ongoing web series.