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A bird flying low over marshes.
Great Salt Lake An autumn sunrise at the Great Salt Lake Shoreland Preserve in Utah. © Haley Pope

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The Nature Conservancy Acquires 174-acre Buffalo Ranch on Eastern Shore of Great Salt Lake

The acquisition will expand TNC’s Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve and protect critical habitat for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl.

April 30, 2026 | Utah

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The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Utah announces the purchase of a 174-acre property known as Buffalo Ranch. Located along the eastern shore of Great Salt Lake, this project secures the protection of critical habitat for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl and builds upon decades of TNC’s efforts to support the health of Great Salt Lake and its ecosystem.

The property is located just south of TNC’s Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve (GSLSP) and will expand the preserve’s footprint in this area. This is a rapidly growing part of Davis County and the shoreline provides essential habitat supporting a diversity of birds and wildlife. As one of the last unprotected tracts along the Farmington Bay shoreline, this acquisition strengthens the continuity of conservation for the benefit of nature and people.

“This project demonstrates TNC’s deep expertise and strong leadership in protecting Great Salt Lake’s ecosystem. Acquisitions such as Buffalo Ranch protect irreplaceable habitat along Great Salt Lake, improving conservation outcomes for wildlife, water, and the community,” said Elizabeth Kitchens, Utah State Director for The Nature Conservancy. “By conserving this property, we are building upon decades of TNC’s collaborative work in the Great Salt Lake watershed. We’ve been working hard to support a healthy Lake and thriving communities for generations and we will continue to do so for many more generations to come.”

TNC has invested over 40 years advocating for the conservation of Great Salt Lake and its ecosystem. Great Salt Lake provides critical habitat for more than 10 million migratory shorebirds and waterfowl each year. Protecting Great Salt Lake and maintaining healthy lake levels is also important for air quality, human health and Utah’s economy.

A vast lake with the sun setting in the horizon.
A vast oasis A sunset at the Great Salt Lake in 2020 looking northwest from the Antelope Island Causeway, with several species of ducks and eared grebes in the foreground. © 2020 Mary Anne Karren
A bird kneeling in a shallow lake.
American Avocet Acocets feed by sweeping their upcurved bill side to side and scooping up invertebrates from the surface of the mud. © Mary Anne Karren

To support those goals, TNC established the GSLSP in 1984, which has since grown to more than 4,500 acres. TNC actively manages the GSLSP to enhance wetlands, which in turn supports healthy water quality and quantity for Great Salt Lake. The preserve also serves as a classroom to educate school children and the public about the importance of wetlands and Great Salt Lake. The GSLSP is one of the ten most visited TNC preserves throughout the country, demonstrating its broad educational reach.

TNC also engages in numerous collaborative efforts to retain and enhance water flows for Great Salt Lake, including through its co-management of the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust (GSLWET) with National Audubon Society.

The Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner and partner non-profit organizations are also excited about TNC’s acquisition and management of the property.

“The protection of Buffalo Ranch is a win for Great Salt Lake,” said Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed. “By securing this land, we are preserving essential bird habitats and ensuring the long-term health of an ecosystem that is critical to Utah’s environment and economy. This project is a perfect example of the collaborative work needed to protect the lake for future generations.”

Said Lynn de Freitas, Executive Director of FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake: “For years, this property has served as a natural extension of the wetland education corridor. Its preservation by TNC will ensure ongoing public benefits to the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, the adjacent Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, and the greater community.”

TNC raised private funding from anonymous donors to purchase the property.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.