Conservancy Purchases Lemhi Valley Ranch
Organization seeks conservation buyer for property
LEADORE, IDAHO — February 2009 — The Nature Conservancy has announced the purchase of the Cottom Ranch, located north of Leadore in the Lemhi Valley. The Conservancy is currently seeking a conservation buyer for the property.
The 1356-acre ranch provides key spawning habitat for salmon, steelhead and resident rainbow and bull trout. The upland portions of the property are used by elk, mule deer and sage grouse.
The Conservancy will focus its protection on the river corridor and will ensure protection of a small spring creek that provides additional native fish habitat. The project will balance the need for irrigation with adequate flows for native fish.
As part of the Conservancy’s commitment to keep working ranches working, the organization plans to sell the property to a conservation buyer, protecting it for its wildlife while continuing its historic use as a working ranch.
The Conservancy is also currently working with other landowners in the Pahsimeroi and Lemhi valleys to conservation their ranches through conservation easements, voluntary legal agreements that protect wildlife habitat while ensuring that traditional land uses like farming and ranching continue.
The Conservancy previously bought the Moen Ranch in the Pahsimeroi valley, selling it to ranchers Glenn and Caryl Elzinga. The Elzingas currently own the ranch and market their Alderspring Beef while working with the Conservancy on conservation measures.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
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