Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail. Land and Water Conservation Fund FY2015 Request

Transcription

1 Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) FY2015 Request

2 National Trails System FY2015 Nez Perce Henry s Lake, Idaho Project Details LWCF Request: $3,000,000 Congressional District: ID-2, Representative Michael Simpson Acres: 3,000 Acquiring Agency: BLM Landscape Characteristics: The Teton Regional Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, The Bureau of Land Henry s Lake s provides summer habitat for numerous threatened and endangered species and is an important stop along migration routes. Management and 10 other conservationfocused agencies and organizations seek to protect one of the last remaining working ranches, Diamond D Ranch, at Henrys Lake. The ranch s location between Targhee Pass and Raynolds Pass makes it valuable for a tremendous diversity of wildlife. The Wildlife Conservation Society has identified the area as a critical corridor for grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, wolves, and wolverines as they move from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosytem towards the Centennial mountains. The property also provides habitat for sandhill cranes, long billed curlew, and red tailed hawks, as well as providing winter habitat for moose and spawning and summer refugia habitat for Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The Diamond D Ranch is currently being used as summer range for cattle. The ranch is known for its state-of-the-art grazing management practice and maintenence of traditional Idaho agricultural practice. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail parallels the ranch on the ridge top to the north and the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) passes through the ranch. Benefits of Protection: Approximately 2.5 miles of the NPNHT will be conserved in perpetuity with this conservation easement, which will also protect invaluable migratory corridors. Both the Teton Regional Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy have had conservation easement discussions with the landowners. The landowners have indicated they would use the proceeds from the sale of the conservation easement to purchase the ranch to the north for the purpose of conserving it s traditional ranching as well as it s scenic open space with a donated or bargain sale conservation easement. The ranch to the north also has a portion of the NPNHT with potential for an interpretive area for the Nez Perce. Threats to the Landscape: Agricultural conversion, development, destruction of natural and heritage resources, loss of public access, and loss of habitat for threatened and endangered species. Partnership Support: In Non-federal contributions from The Nature Conservancy, Teton Regional Land Trust, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and private landowner donations have purchased 1,613 acres in fee and 1,146 acres of conservation easments protecting an additional 8 properties (2,759 acres) that were valued at $4,769,000. Federal contribution towards land conservation within the Henrys Lake ACEC totals $4,386,132. Thus, federal and non-federal investments are approximately equal, and acquisition of this easement leverages Idaho FLTFA funds and a NAWCA grant. The owners of the Diamond D Ranch intend on selling the conservation easement at a bargain one-third of the full value of the conservation easement. Prepared in collaboration by: The Nez Perce Trail Foundation (208) The Partnership for the National Trails System (608)

3 Gallatin Beaverhead Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Red Rocks NWR Henrys Lake West Yellowstone MONTANA IDAHO Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) 20 Yellowstone National Park Caribou - Targhee Vicinity 47 DIAMOND D RANCH TRACT References Legend Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) NHT FY2015 National Trails System Surface Management Agency (ownership), LWCF Collaborative Funding Proposal Proposed Acquisition, Completed Continental Divide NST Conservation Properties, & State Boundary Diamond D Ranch - Proposed Acquisition MAP 1 OF 1 provided by Bureau of Land Mangement. Completed Conservation Properties This map depicts the approximate location of proposed acquisition Nez Perce from a State Boundary for Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) combination of US Forest Service and data. Surface Management Agency US Forest Service Region 4 Disclaimer US Forest Service Upper Snake Field Office Original data was compiled from National Park Service multiple source data and may not National Park Service Pacific meet the U.S. National Mapping National Wildlife Refuge West Region Accuracy Standard of the Office Bureau of Reclamation More detailed cadastral maps can be requested from of Management and Budget. This, Upper Snake Field Office, map has no warranties as to its State Lands; Fish and Game, Other Idaho Falls District, Idaho Falls, Idaho. contents or accuracy. State Parks and Recreation Mile Private file: \\blm\dfs\id\if\loc\gis\projects\lwcf\maps\2013\arcgis10_maps\collaborative_lwcf_submission\diamondd_collab_trls_prj_template_ e.mxd JG Historic Water

4 National Trails System FY2015 Nez Perce Holland Ranch, Montana Project Details LWCF Request: $1,050,000 Congressional District: MT-1, Steve Daines Acres: 320 Acquiring Agency: USFS Landscape Characteristics: The Holland Ranch Parcel is significant for its trail assets, Holland Ranch features three Tier 1 community types, including riparian, sagebrush, and grassland complexes, making it a fertile location for a tremendous diversity of wildlife. wildlife habitat, and proximity to other protected lands, making it a prime target for both outdoor recreation and conservation goals. While only 27% of the Nez Perce has been classified as High Potential Route Segments, this parcel contains a quarter mile of the determined High Potential Route as well as an additional 1.5 miles of foreground protection. The property serves as an important wildlife movement corridor between the Big Hole, Continental Divide, and Horse Prairie for elk, mule deer, moose, and black bears. Gray wolves have been documented in the area as well as Canada lynx and wolverine. The Holland Purchase provides elk parturition areas during May-June and serves as elk spring and summer range. It also contains 2.5 miles of Class 1 stream with productive fisheries and high water quality. This acquisition is important to the State of Montana FWP Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy as an area of primary focus for conservation efforts because in contains three Tier 1 community types, including riparian, sagebrush, and grassland complexes. Benefits of Protection: Acquisition of this property will complete a continuous landscape of 12 miles in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge. This Holland parcel, combined with the Selway Creek parcel (completed in 2007), would complete the consolidation of lands on Bloody Dick and Selway Creeks. This purchase will complete the federal ownership in this area, establishing expanded wildlife habitat and allowing the public to have complete access to desirable fishing and hunting areas. Furthermore, the acquisition of this property would eliminate future encroachment issues and 4.5 miles of property line, resulting in a boundary management savings of approximately $25,000. Potential cost to treat invasive species following acquisition is $800. Further benefits result from improved management efficiencies for fire suppression and watershed management. The long term benefits vastly outweigh the short term costs. Threats to the Landscape: Agricultural conversion, residential and commercial development, destruction of natural and heritage resources, loss of public access, visual intrusion, and loss of habitat for threatened and endangered species. Partnership Support: Yes, there is wide support for this purchase including State of Montana, Beaverhead County Commissoners, and the Nez Perce Tribe. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation holds the property s purchase option and will pay most ($10,000) closing costs. Prepared in collaboration by: The Nez Perce Trail Foundation (208) The Partnership for the National Trails System (608)

5 Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) Beaverhead-Deerlodge Salmon-Challis Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Vicinity Spokane I D A H O Helena M O N T A N A Boise 324 References Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, Nez Perce, Proposed Acquisition, Completed Conservation Properites, Pending Donation to USA, State Boundary provided by US Forest Service. Surface Management Agency (ownership) provided by Montana State Cadastral SWMT, USA Federal Lands (Idaho ownership) provided by US Forest Service. Disclaimer Original data was compiled from multiple source data and may not meet the U.S. National Mapping Accuracy Standard of the Office of Management and Budget. This map has no warranties as to its contents or accuracy. p Legend Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) NHT Continental Divide NST Holland - Proposed Acquistion Completed Conservation Properties Pending Donation to USA State Boundary Surface Management Agency US Forest Service State Lands; Fish and Game, Other HOLLAND RANCH TRACT FY2015 National Trails System LWCF Collaborative Funding Proposal MAP 1 OF 1 This map depicts the approximate location of proposed acquisition for Nez Perce (Nee-Ma-Poo) National HistoricTrail US Forest Service Region 1 More detailed cadastral maps can be requested from REGION 1 BEAVERHEAD-DEERLODGE NF SERVICE OFFICE Mile Private file: \T:\FS\NFS\BeaverheadDeerlodge\Program\5400Landownership\GIS\LWCF\Holland\Collaborative_LWCF_Submission\Holland_Collab_Trls_Prj_Template_ mxd CC