Caribou-Targhee National Forest Gains Priority Inholding The protection of the Maytag-Teton Timbers property will ensure additional access to public lands and enhance wildlife habitat protection

DRIGGS, ID (September 29, 2020) —The U.S. Forest Service and The Conservation Fund
announce that approximately 960-acres of land located in a remote forested area in Teton
County, Idaho is now protected in perpetuity, thanks to a partnership that also includes the
Teton Regional Land Trust, supportive landowners at the Beartooth Group, Teton County
Commissioners, the Valley Advocates for Responsible Development (VARD), and Idaho’s
Congressional delegation.

The Maytag-Teton Timbers property has been a top Forest Service priority for protection in the
Caribou-Targhee National Forest for several years. As a private inholding surrounded by public
lands, the parcel created navigational issues for outdoor enthusiasts interested in accessing the
national forest. The Forest Service’s acquisition of this property effectively helps consolidate the
area within the northern end of the Big Hole Mountain range, eliminates subdivision threats,
reduces wildland-urban interface fire concerns from the local community, and protects critical
wildlife habitat and watersheds. This conservation effort was made possible through funding
from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which was permanently and fully
funded by a new law enacted last month.

“The Maytag-Teton Timbers property is a prime example of LWCF working in a collaborative
way,” said Congressman Mike Simpson. “Engaging with the local community and ensuring
their needs were met, was critical to the success of this project. I applaud the U.S. Forest
Service and all the partners involved, for working diligently to accomplish this great project.
When the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law last month, I said this bill is for
future generations. The Maytag-Teton Timbers property will achieve this goal by opening up
public access for Idahoans for centuries to come.”

With elevated views of the Tetons, a multitude of aspen groves and open meadows, the
potential for residential subdivision on this property was incredibly high. The acquisition
conserves open space, protects habitat from future development, mitigates wildfire risk, and
protects clean water for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and people. This parcel is rich with water
resources and encompasses stretches of Porcupine, Irene, Brown Bear, and Hillman Creeks, as
well as the upper reaches of Pack Saddle and Horseshoe Creeks.

“Protection of these critical riparian areas and headwaters stretches will ensure high-quality
water flows from the upper reaches of Pack Saddle and Horseshoe Creeks to their confluence
with the Teton River, a world-class, blue-ribbon trout fishery,” said Mel Bolling, Caribou-
Targhee National Forest Supervisor.

The conservation of this private inholding ensures the American people, including hikers,
hunters, equestrian riders, anglers, mountain bikers, snow sports enthusiasts, and others will be
able to use an additional 960-acres of public lands and eliminates future concerns about
possible trespass issues on the property.

When the property went up for sale in 2017, The Conservation Fund began working with
Beartooth Group and then stepped in to purchase the Maytag property in April 2020, allowing
the Forest Service the necessary time needed to acquire funding. The Teton Regional Land
Trust assisted The Conservation Fund in the effort to acquire, hold and ultimately transfer the
land to the Forest Service.

“Partnerships and collaboration go a long way in making these important conservation projects
viable,” said Mark Elsbree, Western Director and Senior Vice President at The
Conservation Fund. “Securing the Maytag property for a community that highly values its
public lands for wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities will have a lasting positive impact.”
“The Teton Regional Land Trust is happy to be a partner in this acquisition to incorporate the
private inholding in the Big Hole Mountains into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. This is a
great outcome for the public and wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem” stated Joselin
Matkins, the Land Trust’s Executive Director.

“It is our mission to restore, enhance and protect critical properties throughout the West – and
this transaction will be one of our proudest moments,” said Robert Keith, Founder and
Managing Principal of Beartooth Group. “We started working with the Teton Regional Land
Trust and The Conservation Fund before our acquisition in 2014 on how to make such an
outcome occur. After the demolition of a large and hazardous structure, clean-up associated with
abandoned coal mining operations and a sustainable timber operation to improve forest health,
The Conservation Fund made this goal a reality. It was truly a pleasure to be involved with this
Forest Service great group of partners in this wonderful transaction.”

“From my initial conversation with The Conservation Fund, and as a Board member with VARD,
I was beyond thrilled and honored to present to them the opportunity to preserve the Maytag
property,” said VARD Board Member Linda Unland. “Through the hard work of The
Conservation Fund, the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and many others, the project is
coming to fruition. This is an exceptional shared legacy for the Teton Valley and generations to
come.”

About Caribou-Targhee National Forest
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest occupies over 3 million acres and stretches across
southeastern Idaho, from the Montana, Utah, and Wyoming borders. To the east, the Forest
borders Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the Bridger-Teton National
Forest. Most of the Caribou-Targhee is part of the 20-million acres Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem and is also home to the Curlew National Grassland. The spectacular scenery of the
Forest is easily reached from highways, byways, and back doors. The bond between forest and
community spans generations through family activities such as camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and riding off-highway vehicles. During the winter, the forest offers vast expanses of untracked powder.

About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that
make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its
essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have
worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than eight million acres of land, including over
135,000 acres in Idaho. https://www.conservationfund.org

About Teton Regional Land Trust
Teton Regional Land Trust is a 501(c) (3) whose mission is to conserve working farms and
ranches, fish and wildlife habitat, and scenic open spaces in eastern Idaho for this and future
generations. For more information, please call 208-354-8939 or visit our website at:
www.tetonlandtrust.org

About Valley Advocates for Responsible Development
Valley Advocates for Responsible Development (VARD) is a Driggs, Idaho-based nonprofit with a
mission of promoting open spaces, wild places, and vibrant towns in Teton Valley. We promote
a synthesis of responsible development and sustainable use of rural and natural resources in
Teton Valley, a key sub-region of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that lies under 5 local
government jurisdictions and two US States. Since our founding in 2001, we have influenced
countless community planning decisions and have leveraged over $31 million toward
conservation and community development efforts.