POCATELLO — Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust (SSLT) is pleased to announce the permanent conservation of over 800 acres of open space, wildlife habitat and agricultural land through conservation easements on two adjacent properties in Franklin County.
With the addition of these two important conservation easements, SSLT has now protected more than 11,300 acres across Southeast Idaho.
“These are red-letter days for us,” said Heath Mann, SSLT’s executive director. “I am humbled by the landowners’ desire to preserve their legacy. Together, we are protecting the Idaho we love today for the Idaho we hope to see tomorrow.”
The conserved lands provide important habitat for mule deer, elk, moose, sharp-tailed grouse, Bonneville cutthroat trout and several other conservation-priority species while also preserving southeast Idaho’s strong agricultural heritage and boosting rural economy. The properties connect thousands of acres of public lands in the area, preserving wildlife migration corridors and the landscape connectivity that supports long-term ecosystem resilience.
“These conservation easements are a win-win for both agriculture and wildlife,” said Matt Coombs, the Bear River Watershed conservation director for SSLT and the Bear River Land Conservancy in Utah. “It’s been a pleasure to work with the landowners to protect their legacy as well as the many public benefits these lands provide.”
Both properties have been owned and managed by the same family for several generations and will remain in active agricultural use. The permanent protection of these properties reflects the landowners’ long-standing commitment to caring for the land and keeping it open and available for agriculture and ranching for future generations.
“Our motivation for doing a conservation easement is simple,” said one of the landowners, who asked to remain anonymous. “We love the land and the wildlife that lives there and want to preserve its quality for the future.”
In addition to its ecological and agricultural values, the protected acreage offers striking scenic beauty, with mountain views, rolling hills and a winding creek. The diverse landscape supports significant riparian corridors and a wide range of native plants, including big sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, Rocky Mountain maple and native grasses.
Conservation easements are voluntary agreements that limit development in order to protect agricultural lands, wildlife habitat or other open space resources that provide significant benefits for current and future generations while keeping the land in private ownership. Landowners and land trusts work together to establish the specific terms of a conservation easement, tailoring each agreement to the unique conservation values of the property and the goals and interests of both parties.
Funding for these projects was provided through partnerships with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), PacifiCorp through the Bear River Hydroelectric Project Environmental Coordination Committee and support from private donors.
These projects illustrate the continued success of the larger Bear River Watershed Collaborative among SSLT, Bear River Land Conservancy, NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Intermountain West Joint Venture, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and others to provide conservation opportunities that enable private landowners to continue farming and ranching while preserving important wildlife habitat and open space resources.
“These new agreements are landmark conservation gains for the Bear River Watershed,” said Mark Gamblin, president of SSLT’s board of directors. “We are proud to help landowners secure the legacy they want for their land and way of life.”
Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting, connecting, and enhancing wildlife habitat, working lands and community spaces in Southeast Idaho — now and for future generations. For more information, visit sagebrushlandtrust.org.