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Easement Protects Salmon River Tributary

Third-generation rancher works with Conservancy to protect ranchland, salmon habitat

Salmon, Idaho  — April 28, 2009 —A 300-acre conservation easement along Carmen Creek, a tributary of the Salmon River, protects a working ranch and important wildlife habitat, including stream habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead trout.

The Nature Conservancy purchased the conservation easement and will transfer it to the Lemhi Regional Land Trust, a local organization that provides incentives and options for ranch owners to preserve their agricultural lifestyles.

“The Nature Conservancy and Lemhi Regional Land Trust have forged a unique and productive partnership in the Upper Salmon Basin. This project is a great example of how working together can achieve on-the-ground results that matter,” says Kristin Troy, executive director of the Lemhi Regional Land Trust.  “This 300-acre Carmen Creek gem will remain intact for future generations of wildlife and people – a good reason to celebrate here in Lemhi County.”
 

The easement property is owned by Tom McFarland, a third-generation rancher in the area. The McFarlands will continue to own and operate the property as a working ranch.

“If we truly want to keep what’s good about this valley, we need to keep the small, local landowners on the land,” says McFarland.

The conservation easement was made possible by both private and public grants.  A grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation provided funding through a program to support protection for ecologically important lands identified in state conservation plans. A grant from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provided important funding through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.  Additional private grant funding was provided by the Page Foundation.

“The Carmen Creek watershed is a vitally important place to a variety of wildlife species, and is identified as a priority by Idaho’s State Conservation Strategy,” says Mark Davidson, the Conservancy’s Central Idaho conservation manager. “Conservation easements help keep local ranchers on the land while also protecting Idaho’s wildlife heritage.”
 

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.