2,037 Acre Easement to preserve habitat

[Hangar18]

Another good thing from the Teton Regional Land Trust.

Easement will keep 2,037 acres free of development
Ranchers agree to preserve land along Henrys Fork

ST. ANTHONY — Three brothers have agreed to keep more than 2,000 acres of ranchland along the Henrys Fork of the Snake River free of development.

Lynn, Ron and Terry Wilcox completed the easement agreement with the Teton Regional Land Trust to protect the family´s 2,037-acre ranch just upstream from the Chester Dam, northeast of Rexburg. The brothers also worked with the Bureau of Land Management to protect the property.

The ranch, a nearly mile-long stretch bordering the Henrys Fork, is home to several seasonal ponds used by waterfowl. The area also provides habitat for wintering elk and other wildlife.

“Each of us grew up being able to hunt and fish just about anywhere. We had access all along the waterways, but over the years, we´ve seen it developed and changed,” Lynn Wilcox said.

“This is a piece of property that still has those opportunities and we wanted to protect it. This country will never look the way it did when we grew up, but if we can help retain some of its constitution and not overrun it with development, that´s a good thing,” he said.

The land will still be used for cattle grazing in summer and fall, but the easement prohibits any building on the ranch, except for three small parcels on which the brothers kept development rights.

The Wilcoxes´ neighbors, John and Sheila Nedrow, recently completed their second conservation easement with the Teton Regional Land Trust, protecting another 215 acres.

On the Net

Teton Regional Land Trust: www.tetonlandtrust.org

Link
http://www.idahostatesman.com/Story.asp?ID=62856

 

[1_pointer]

Good deal!!