Wood River Land Trust Staff Report

Transcription

1 Wood River Land Trust Staff Report Date: July 9, 2014 To: Board of Directors From: Staff, Keri York Regarding: MacConnell Agricultural Lands Easement Action Item Action Item: The item for consideration is a conservation easement on approximately 520 acres of land owned by Monte MacConnell (Triple M Land and Cattle, L.L.C.) through the federal Agricultural Lands Easement program. Background: Congress passed the Agricultural Act of 2014, implementing a new Farm Bill that restructured conservation easement programs. The new Agricultural Conservation Easement Program funds Wetlands Reserve Easements and Agricultural Lands Easements. Agricultural Lands Easements (ALE) are all funded similarly to the old Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, where the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funds up to 50% of the conservation easement value, and the remainder is comprised of entity funding and/or landowner donation. Conservation easement value is based on an appraisal. For 2014, grasslands of special significance are eligible to receive funding for up to 75% of easement value through the NRCS. Project Description: The Land Trust submitted an application for 2014 ALE funding for 75% of the easement value on approximately 520 acres of land owned by Monte MacConnell in Butte County. This property qualifies as a grassland of special significance because of its sage-grouse habitat. NRCS funding will be announced in late July, and the Land Trust may need to sign a cooperative agreement in early August if funding is awarded. The remaining conservation easement value will be funded through landowner donation and a private foundation re-grant from The Nature Conservancy. Through our Pioneers Alliance partnership, The Nature Conservancy has offered to re-grant funding they have received for private land conservation in the Pioneers-Craters landscape. The Nature Conservancy is currently working on the grant agreement. The grant agreement securing matching funds from The Nature Conservancy would be completed before the Land Trust signs the NRCS cooperative agreement. The property is near other lands encumbered by conservation easements held by the Land Trust and the NRCS. It is comprised of sagebrush-steppe habitat, native forbs and grasses, aspen forests, and natural springs. The entire property is considered key sage-grouse habitat, and Mr. MacConnell has seen one undocumented lek on the property. Other species seen on the property include elk, mule deer, pronghorn, raptors, and songbirds. It is currently used for grazing and there are no structures. Protection of this property would add connectivity to already protected lands within the Champagne Creek and Antelope Creek drainages. It would enable the Land Trust to continue working with a conservation-minded rancher in Butte County. The conservation easement would allow for continuing grazing practices that are consistent with protection of natural resources. One residential structure would be permitted within a designated building envelope. The easement will be based on the Land Trust s model easement and will incorporate language required by the NRCS. The NRCS and The Nature Conservancy would have second and third-party enforcement rights, which is a common requirement of funding agencies.

2 Estimated conservation easement value is $171,600. This is based on 2013 Grassland Reserve Program conservation easement payments. The NRCS would fund up to 75% of the value. The remainder would be split between landowner donation and private foundation funds re-granted from The Nature Conservancy. The Land Trust would split all due diligence and closing costs with Mr. MacConnell, including a survey and appraisal which are required by NRCS. The cost estimate for due diligence is $40,000. The stewardship cost is $15,550. Benefits for Wood River Land Trust: Protection of significant fish and wildlife habitat. This conservation easement would protect habitat for elk, mule deer, pronghorn, sage-grouse, raptors, migratory birds, and other upland game birds. Protection of working rangelands. Mr. MacConnell uses the property for cattle grazing, in rotation with other lands protected by conservation easements. This conservation easement will allow for continued agricultural use per best management practices. Connectivity with other protected lands. The property is bordered by BLM and is near other conservation easements held by the Land Trust and the NRCS. This conservation easement will protect important migration corridors for big game and sage-grouse. Continuing partnership work within the Pioneers-Craters landscape. This conservation easement will continue the Land Trust s successful conservation work with governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private landowners in the Pioneers-Craters landscape. Leveraging federal and private funding sources. This project will leverage federal NRCS funds, private foundation funds, and a landowner donation to fund the conservation easement. Staff Recommendations: Staff recommends pursuing the purchase of a conservation easement on 520 acres of Mr. MacConnell s property as described above, contingent upon receipt of funding from the NRCS and The Nature Conservancy, and approval of due diligence. Staff recommends sharing due diligence and closing costs with Mr. MacConnell. Staff recommends allocating Stewardship Funds from the Open Space Fund. Relevant excerpts from Wood River Land Trust s Strategic Plan (2011): Goal 1 Identify, prioritize, and pursue the protection of significant resources at risk in each of the following watersheds located within the Land Trust s service area: (1) Big Wood River and Silver Creek, (2) Little Wood River, (3) Camas Creek, (4) Upper Salmon and Pahsimeroi Rivers, (5) Big Lost and Little Lost Rivers o Objective 1: For each of the watersheds, identify the resource or resources needing protection (e.g. land, water, wildlife, agriculture, scenic viewsheds), with creation and maintenance of public access wherever appropriate. o Objective 2: Develop plans for protection of the identified resources for each watershed, including priorities and, where appropriate, plans for advocacy. In the development of such plans, be open to the use of novel techniques. Goal 2 Stewardship: Permanently maintain the conservation easements held by WRLT and manage owned properties to ensure protection of their conservation values o Objective 2: Manage, and where necessary restore, preserved lands meeting LTA Standards & Practices, and exceeding them where possible, to ensure the public benefit of such preserved lands

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4 Triple M Land and Cattle, L.L.C. Geographic Map µ Triple M Land and Cattle, L.L.C. Project Boundary U.S. Bureau of Land Management Idaho Dept. of Lands Antelope Valley WRLT Easement U.S. National Park Service Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game Craters of the Moon National Monument Boundary Conservation Easement Status Completed In Progress Goodales Cutoff Roads Arco US HWY 93A Champagne Creek WRLT Easement US HWY 93A Miles US HWY 20 Sources: background: ArcGIS basemap; Triple M Land and Cattle, L.L.C.: WRLT; land management, roads, monument boundary, Goodale's Cutoff = INSIDE Idaho; conservation easement status: WRLT, The Nature Consevancy, NRCS. Prepared by Wood River Land Trust on June for display purposes only.

5 Triple M Land and Cattle, L.L.C. Property Map µ BLACK CAP PEAK CHAMPAGNE CREEK RD. Triple M Land and Cattle, L.L.C. Boundary (approx. 520 acres) Proposed Building Envelope Potential Ingress/Egress Routes Miles Roads Sources:aerial: NAIP USDA 2009; parcel boundary: Butte County, WRLT; building envelope, ingress/egress: WRLT; roads: BLM travel management plan; Sections: INSIDE Idaho. Prepared by Wood River Land Trust on 12 June 2014 for display purposes only.