Completed Projects

Touchet River Easement Protects 14 Acres

The 14 acres of this easement on land owned by Cheryl Chatman is less than a mile upstream from another BMLT conservation easement and is preserved for riparian habitat and agricultural uses. There is a mature cottonwood stand along the river and high quality floodplain and ripar­ian vegetation. This 4/5’s mile of stream was controlled to facilitate farming by previous owners, but is regaining its meanders now that it is left in its natural state. Grazing on the property is fenced off from the river

 

South Patit Creek

Nearly two miles of both sides of South Patit Creek outside Dayton are now permanently protected as the result of a conservation easement held by Blue Mountain Land Trust.  A grant from the Washington Salmon Recovery Board funded the purchase of development rights on the property to ensure its conservation values will always be preserved.

Besides the riparian zone along the creek, the easement encompasses a total 132 acres and protects high quality wildlife habitat, a timber stand and open grasslands.  The variety of habitats on the property supports dozens of wildlife species, and the landowners have done much to promote good habitat by participating in a CREP program on part of the acreage.

The stream is important for steelhead spawning and rearing, and a riparian restoration project jointly sponsored the landowners, the Blue Mountain Land Trust, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) was planted last fall to provide stream side shade and improve fisheries habitat on the property.

“This is a beautiful piece of property on both sides of South Patit Creek, an important steelhead spawning and rearing stream.  The landowners are committed to restoring native vegetation and maintaining the high quality fish and wildlife habitat.  At the same time they have the opportunity to produce agricultural products off of the land.  This acquisition is a win-win-win, for the landowners, the public, and the resource” said Tom Reilly, Executive Director for the Blue Mountain Land Trust.

The purpose of a conservation easement is to maintain private ownership of the land while compensating the landowners for foregoing all future possibility of adverse development or use,  and they cannot subdivide the property.  Properties are evaluated for the quality of their habitat and their potential to support salmon recovery through a rigorous selection process.  Landowners specify what rights they will retain on their property and at the same time agree to an array of prohibited uses on the property to protect values important everyone such as open space, habitat, and working lands.

July 2012

New Easement Protects Salmon Habitat Confluence of Touchet River & Wolf Creek

The confluence of Wolf Creek and the North Fork of the Touchet River is now permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Blue Mountain Land Trust. 

The easement on 99 acres of riparian habitat and steep basalt upland terrain keeps the land in private ownership and maintains it as a homestead while ensuring protection of waters important for steelhead spawning and rearing and Chinook and bull trout migration.  It is also excellent wildlife habitat, with deer, elk, and other species present.

The project is funded in large part by the State of Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board with additional partners in the Bonneville Power Administration and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

“We are grateful to the landowners Larry and Barbara Fairchild for their desire to see their land protected for the benefit of fish and wildlife and to the Snake River Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Bonneville Power Administration, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation for funding the purchase of the Conservation Easement,’ said Tom Dwonch, BMLT Executive Director. ‘This project benefits the entire community by preserving an important natural resource and at the same time keeping the land in private ownership and on the Columbia County tax rolls.”

“This is our small way of supporting a worthwhile cause and a dedicated group of people," said Fairchild.

This is the second conservation easement secured by Blue Mountain Land Trust in the Dayton area on the Touchet River or tributaries and results in nearly 2 stream miles protected on both sides.

Touchet River

The Blue Mountain Land Trust and Touchet River landowner Bryan Martin have signed a conservation easement that protects important salmon and steelhead habitat on a stretch of the Touchet River southwest of Dayton. The agreement was signed on August 25th.
 
The 35-acre easement protects both sides of 3/4 of a mile of the river protecting against future development, diking, and roads in the floodplain. The easement contains an old river meander, dozens of floodplain acres, several low gravel islands, and other wildlife habitat.   As part of the easement the riparian zone 100 feet back from the river will be fenced. Within the fenced area only passive recreation and habitat improvements will be allowed, while the remainder of the easement area will continue to be used for agricultural purposes. Planting of native vegetation within the riparian zone is planned for this fall.
 
“I’m very happy to be able to protect this important salmon and steelhead habitat”, says Bryan Martin. “The conservation easement allows me to continue to own and use the land and at the same time protect an important resource for the future.”
 
 “We are thrilled to enter into this agreement with Bryan,” says Tom Dwonch, Executive Director of Blue Mountain Land Trust. “His vision for the land will be a lasting gift to our community because it will help salmon and steelhead recovery efforts and will also preserve open space along this developing area of the Touchet River.”
 
Funding for the conservation easement acquisition comes from the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board.
 
Mud Creek- 238 acres
 
 
Local landowners Don & Anne Marie Schwerin have donated a conservation easement on their 238-acre farm near Walla Walla to Blue Mountain Land Trust to ensure the permanent protection and stewardship of their agricultural land and wildlife habitat.
 
 
The Schwerin’s farm, which has belonged to the family for more than 80 years, is in an area of highly productive soils and currently produces wheat. In the past peas, garbanzos, canola, alfalfa and grass seed have also been grown on the land. Two forks of Mud Creek on the property provide valuable wildlife habitat with nearly a half mile of stream and approximately 80 acres of associated wildlife habitat.
Because the farm is on the outskirts of Walla Walla, it was a candidate for possible subdivision and development in the future. The conservation easement permanently protects these productive agricultural lands and wildlife habitat.
 “Voluntary efforts to protect the rich resources of our area by private individuals like the Schwerins benefits the entire community and preserves the quality of life we all enjoy and value,” said Tom Dwonch, BMLT executive director. “The conservation easement tool is wonderful because it provides the protection the landowners desire while keeping the land in private ownership. The rich agricultural soils continue to grow crops and important wildlife habitat remains intact. Blue Mountain Land Trust is proud to partner with the Schwerins to protect their beautiful farm.”

 

Mill Creek/Titus Creek

The first easement granted to Blue Mountain Land Trust. Actually two easements over adjoining acreages. This property is situated between Titus and Mill Creek east of Walla Walla. 

The easement will permanently protect the property from subdivision while protecting open space, agricultural land and riparian habitat.  Donated Easement.

 

 

 

 

To see active projects, clickhere.