Teton Regional Land Trust partners with landowners to conserve 140-acre property on the Teton River

Teton Regional Land Trust and an anonymous family recently completed a 140-acre conservation easement on the east side of the Teton River near the Nickerson river access site in the central part of Teton Basin. The Dick Creek property lies within a vast complex of private lands protected with conservation easements held by the Land Trust, adding to a mosaic of conserved lands near the Teton River, benefiting wildlife and recreationists.  

“We love Teton Valley and thought that a conservation easement would be a great way to preserve the land in perpetuity,” explained the landowner. “Habitat loss due to development is a real thing; our wildlife needs undisturbed space in order to thrive. Because this property is between other conservation easements, it made sense to protect it.” 

This property’s proximity to other protected lands means that wildlife will remain able to move freely between the fields and the Teton River. The open space also provides scenic value for the public, especially recreationists on the river. It contains Teton River frontage, spring creeks, and abundant wetlands. The west side of the property is bordered by the Teton River, while Dick Creek flows through the land from the east, then empties into the Teton River at the western boundary. The landowners have engaged in extensive wetland restoration activities on the land. According to the landowner, “Since purchasing the property, we have planted more than 1,968 willows and aspens along the creek and river. We hope to continue working on the habitat in the future.” 

The conservation and restoration of this property will benefit numerous species, including Sandhill Cranes and Trumpeter Swans, two species of particular interest to Teton Regional Land Trust and species that are designated as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) according to the State Wildlife Action Plan adopted by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in 2024. Other SGCN that can be found on the property include Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, Long-billed Curlew, and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, among many others. Various waterfowl, raptors, and moose also use the property. 

“I am grateful to the landowners that have recently protected their land. As a Teton Valley resident, I enjoy spending time on the Teton River. It is almost entirely bordered by private land yet remains largely undeveloped due to the work and vision of many private landowners who have conserved land along the river. I appreciate their efforts to conserve this unique landscape,” said Land Protection Director Renee Hiebert. 

Conservation of the Dick Creek property builds on the protection of already conserved habitat and working lands that benefit both people and wildlife. For 35 years, the Land Trust has worked with partner organizations and willing landowners to protect over 42,000 acres in eastern Idaho through conservation easements and other voluntary conservation options.    

Teton Regional Land Trust is excited to announce the closing of the Darby Creek Farm through a conservation easement with the landowner, Boyd Bowles.

The Bowles family has owned this 192 acre property since 1910 and is committed to ensuring the farm remains in agriculture. This marks the 100th conservation project that TRLT has completed in Teton County, Idaho. TRLT would like to thank the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the partners named at the end of this press release for their contributions to the project.

The Darby Creek Farm sits in an incredibly scenic landscape at the mouth of Darby Canyon, which is one of the most popular and cherished destinations for recreationists in Teton Valley. Darby Canyon is an important wintering area for mule deer and a migration route for big game species. The protection of this farm will allow for the continued unimpeded movement of those species and the preservation of scenic views.

Mr. Bowles has owned the land for nearly 40 years since he acquired it from his family. The farm is currently used as irrigated farmland, much as it was at the end of the 19th century. Barley, quinoa, and seed potatoes are the primary crops grown on the farm. Approximately 70% of the Bowles Darby Creek property soils are considered prime farmland soils if irrigated, which are critically important in meeting the nation’s short-term and long-term needs for food and fiber. Conservation of these resources is important to continue the agricultural heritage in Teton Valley, and for providing produce to local and regional markets.

Teton County, Idaho, historically an agricultural community, is experiencing rapid population growth that shows no signs of slowing. Between 2020 and 2025, eastern Idaho’s population will increase by 14%. Agricultural land provides immense value in terms of food security, wildlife migratory routes, and the preservation of scenic views, but it is also among the most sought after land by developers. For many farmers and ranchers, conservation easements provide an alternative to selling their land. By limiting the size and scope of development on the property and conserving the land’s values such as prime soils and scenic open space, landowners can have more financial flexibility while retaining ownership and guaranteeing the land remains viable for agriculture. “It has been my goal not to see houses on this ground,” said Mr. Bowles. “For the past few years, I have been working with the Land Trust to preserve the ground to keep it in agriculture.”

This farm was protected by an agricultural land easement, which protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land. This is accomplished by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect those values. Matching funds were delivered through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program – Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easement Program (RCPP-ACEP-ALE).

“We love working with landowners to meet their voluntary conservation goals,” said Curtis Elke, State Conservationist for NRCS in Idaho. “When they take advantage of our easement programs, it is an even bigger win for the landowner and the landscape. In working with Mr. Bowles, together we have ensured that sustainable crop production continues, and wildlife maintains access to the habitat it needs. It’s Idaho at its best.”

Mr. Bowles chose to place his farm into an agricultural conservation easement because it was important to him that the land remains well cared for. For many years, he has leased the farm to Paris Penfold, a neighbor whose family has farmed in Teton Valley for generations as well. Mr. Bowles wants to be certain this farm can continue to be used for agricultural production into the future. He hopes to sell his farm to a local producer, which is only possible due to this conservation easement. After limiting the property’s development rights, Mr. Bowles will be able to sell the property at a price that is affordable to a local farmer, while still receiving what he needs to retire. “It has been my goal to sell the development rights so I can sell the ground at a price a farmer can make a living at,” said Mr. Bowles.

The tradition of caring for this land will also be carried forward by the Land Trust, as it will be stewarded by our staff in perpetuity, ensuring the conservation values protected under the agreement are being upheld. These factors together ensure that this farm will be protected forever.

NRCS provided matching funds through its ACEP-ALE program. Additional support came from the Richard G. Grundler Teton Valley Conservation Fund, the estate of Ronald C. Rope, the Heart of the Rockies Initiative’s Keep it Connected program, the Kendeda Fund, and others.

Teton Regional Land Trust partners with landowners to conserve 140-acre property near the Teton River

Teton Regional Land Trust (TRLT) and the Gailey family recently completed a 140-acre conservation easement near the “Two Forks” section of the Teton River, downstream of the Teton Creek (Nickerson) river access in Teton County. There is a rich history to this property, as the Gaileys are just the third family to own it since it was homesteaded at the turn of the 20th century. This working farm is bordered by conservation easements to the east, adding to the mosaic of protected lands that lie in proximity to the Teton River, a refuge for wildlife and recreationists alike.

“While we don’t live in the area, our family has been visiting and enjoying the Teton Valley for over 50 years,” said the Gailey family. “We were lucky enough to become landowners in 2000. We’re thrilled to be a small part of the conservation efforts with the Teton Regional Land Trust in protecting the Sandhill Crane habitat and preserving open spaces in the valley. We felt a conservation easement was the best way to be good stewards to our land and to guarantee that its habitat and scenic qualities are enjoyed by future generations. We appreciate the work and efforts of Renee Hiebert and everyone at the Teton Regional Land Trust and their donors in making it happen.”

The Land Trust would like to recognize the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Agricultural Land Easement Program, the Richard G. Grundler Teton Valley Conservation Fund, the estate of Ronald C. Rope, The Cross Charitable Foundation, the East Idaho River Conservation Fund, and support through the Land Trust’s Legacy of Land campaign for contributions toward this project.

“We love working with landowners to meet their voluntary conservation goals,” said Curtis Elke, State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho. “When they take advantage of our easement programs, it is an even bigger win for the landowner and the landscape. In working with the Gailey family, together we have ensured that sustainable crop production continues, and wildlife maintains access to the habitat it needs. It’s Idaho at its best.”

The Gailey property possesses several qualities lending it conservation value. Its proximity to other protected lands means that wildlife will remain able to move freely between the fields and the Teton River. That open space also provides scenic value for the public, as it can be viewed from Teton County Road West 1250 South, as well as by recreationists floating the river, a portion of which flows through the northern end of the property. Finally, it holds agricultural value, as 87% of the soils are considered prime soils of statewide significance for agriculture.

This property is also unique in that it holds historical value. Enoch “Cal” Carrington homesteaded this land in 1897 after arriving via the old Mormon Trail from Utah to the Teton Basin, driving a light iron-tired wagon with three head of horses. Land Trust member Earle Layser has written a biography about Carrington titled I Always Did Like Horses and Women: Enoch Cal Carrington’s Life Story. Layser chronicles Carrington’s life working as an outfitter and “bronc buster” as he spent ten years meeting the requirements to establish a claim on this land through the Desert Land Act. To this day, the cabin that Carrington built still stands on the property’s west side. Since Carrington’s death in 1959, the two subsequent owners have chosen to farm around this structure rather than remove it. “Teton Valley history has deep ties to the old cabin and its original owner,” writes Layser.

The conservation of the Gailey property will benefit numerous species, including most notably Sandhill Cranes. The property sits in the heart of the highest concentration of crane roosts in Teton Valley.  The land has seen extremely high crane counts in its barley fields over the years and is considered the top land conservation priority by the Greater Yellowstone Sandhill Crane Initiative partners due to its importance for Sandhill Cranes. Trumpeter Swans also rely upon the stretch of river that runs through the northern end of the property for wintering habitat. Both of these species are considered Species of Greatest Conservation Need according to the State Wildlife Action Plan adopted by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in 2017. Other Species of Greatest Conservation Need that use the property include Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse and Long-billed Curlew. Extensive willow vegetation along the river provides habitat for big game such as moose and white-tailed deer, as well as many raptor species.

“We appreciate the Gailey family’s vision to conserve Teton Valley farm ground as well as Teton riverfront and Valley homesteader history,” said Conservation Project Manager Renee Hiebert.

Conservation of the Gailey property builds on the protection of already conserved habitat and working lands that benefits both people and wildlife. For 33 years, the Land Trust has worked with partner organizations and willing landowners to protect over 40,000 acres in eastern Idaho through conservation easements and other voluntary conservation options.

This conservation work is not possible without community support. The Teton Regional Land Trust leverages each dollar of private contributions three times to secure conservation easement funding like NRCS’s Agricultural Land Easement Program. Right now, thanks to a generous match from the Hamill Family Foundation, donations to the Teton Regional Land Trust will be doubled for conservation. To take advantage of this opportunity to protect eastern Idaho’s wild and working lands, make a tax-deductible gift to the Land Trust at tetonlandtrust.org or send a check to P.O. Box 247, Driggs, ID 83455.

Teton Regional Land Trust partners with landowners to conserve over a mile of creek frontage along Bitch Creek

Teton Regional Land Trust (TRLT) and the Fosdick family recently completed a 183-acre conservation easement that protects over a mile of frontage along Bitch Creek in Fremont County, Idaho just north of the Teton County border. This property borders a conservation easement on the south side of the creek that the Fosdicks placed under easement with the Land Trust in 2005, resulting in both sides of Bitch Creek being protected in perpetuity along this stretch. Both easements have been donated by the Fosdicks. “Since coming to Teton Valley in 1988 we knew that this was a place that we wanted to be a part of and preserve,” said Debbie Fosdick. “To have a conservation easement in place to protect the property, waters, and wildlife corridors gives us the assurance that this protection is in place. With the possibility of increasing development, David and I knew that putting the additional acreage located in Fremont County was important. To have both sides of that part of the Bitch Creek corridor in a conservation easement would help ensure preservation of what we both value. Hopefully, other landowners might join us.”

The Land Trust would like to recognize the Heart of the Rockies Initiative and Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation for providing funding support for this project.

Several factors led to this property having significant value as a conservation easement. In addition to bordering the Fosdicks’ first easement, it also lies in close proximity to other conserved private and public lands to the west and south. Part of the property is dry farmed in barley, lending it agricultural value. The land also has scenic value, as its beautiful terrain, a combination of rolling hills and canyon walls, can be viewed from the Bitch Creek bridge on Highway 32.

A combination of various ecological features form key habitat for many species. Vegetation along the steep canyon slopes includes dense conifer and juniper, while the rolling terrain contains a mixture of sagebrush, bitterbrush, aspen stringers, and grasslands. These vegetative communities provide invaluable open space for migrating big game including moose, white-tailed deer and mule deer. Mule deer migrating west over the Teton Mountains into Idaho specifically rely on this area along Bitch Creek for migration and wintering habitat. Many raptor species such as Bald and Golden Eagle, as well as multiple bat species utilize the rocky canyon walls that span the edge of the property leading down to the creek. The presence of multiple grouse leks in the area indicates that the property is a breeding ground for Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. Finally, native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Bitch Creek will benefit from the protection of this property.

“We are grateful to the landowners for generously conserving over a mile of both sides of the Bitch Creek canyon, protecting the area not only for wildlife and agriculture, but also for spectacular scenic views,” said Land Protection Specialist Renee Hiebert.

“The Teton Regional Land Trust has been so professional, so helpful, and tireless in making this second easement happen,” said the Fosdicks. “We cannot say enough good things about their staff and efforts.”

Conservation of the Fosdick property builds on the protection of already conserved habitat and working lands that benefits both people and wildlife. For 32 years, the Land Trust has worked with partner organizations and willing landowners to protect nearly 40,000 acres in eastern Idaho through conservation easements and other voluntary conservation options.

Three Regional Conservation Projects Protect Working Lands, Wildlife Habitat, and Scenic Views

(November 1, 2021) Teton Regional Land Trust (TRLT) completed three important conservation projects this summer on properties throughout our region in Teton Valley, on Pine Creek Bench in Swan Valley, and adjacent to the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area. These conservation easements add over 2,500 acres to the Land Trust’s conserved properties. “Congratulations to Renee Hiebert, Conservation Specialist and Josh Holmes, Land Protection Specialist, who led these projects that reflect the landowners’ goals for their properties while protecting the conservation values. All three projects build upon past conservation work by TRLT and our partners and help ensure the long-term ecological function of core conservation areas in east Idaho. It’s no secret that east Idaho is facing unprecedented pressures on resources. Strategic conservation of working lands that provide key wildlife habitat and habitat connectivity contributes to common goals of many people who call this area home—open space and robust wildlife populations” said Tamara Sperber, Conservation Director.

Earlier this summer, Three Forks, LLC conserved 130 acres of pivot-irrigated farmland adjacent to their existing conservation easement properties that are located in the Three Forks area of the Teton River approximately five miles west of Driggs. The property provides important foraging habitat for Sandhill Cranes and waterbirds in both spring and fall and is part of a migratory corridor for big game. The family donated the value of the conservation easement, which provides the needed private match for TRLT’s current North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant.  This is TRLT’s sixth $1 million NAWCA grant that benefits Teton Valley and brings funds to local landowners interested in conserving their land to benefit wetland-dependent bird species. Each grant has been leveraged by several million private dollars in the form of both easement donations and monetary donations from private foundations and individuals, benefitting local communities, both human and wild. The Cross Charitable Foundation helped with the needed match to complete this conservation project. The recent easement meets two distinct conservation purposes: the preservation of the relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants and the protection of open space including farmland pursuant to a clearly delineated governmental policy.

In early September, a conservation easement granted to TRLT by the Bradford family preserved one of the last pieces of unprotected farmland on Pine Creek Bench in Swan Valley. Overlooking the South Fork of the Snake River, this 140-acre easement is surrounded by other protected farms and land owned by Bureau of Land Management, which collectively protect the incredible scenery along the famed trout stream.  “This was an exceptionally rewarding project to be a part of. Anytime you see an inholding conserved, you know the resources in the area have a greater chance of remaining intact for the future benefit of local wildlife.  Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse and big game are a few of the species that rely on the open space and habitat of the Pine Creek Bench. The Bradfords have made a significant and lasting impact on conservation in the area.” says Josh Holmes, TRLT Land Protection Specialist, who worked on the conservation easement.  This project builds on the 30-year effort by the Snake River Conservation Partnership to protect lands along the South Fork, adding to the more than 10,000 acres that have been preserved from development along the river. Funding was also provided by Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the JKL Family Foundation, the Cross Charitable Foundation, and a private bequest.

Most recently, one of TRLT’s largest conservation easements was granted by a family on their ranch adjacent to the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA), in Bonneville County east of Idaho Falls, preserving critical transition habitat that is vital for big game herds that winter on the WMA. Elk, mule deer, moose, Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, and a multitude of other wildlife species will benefit from the protection of this large property. This conservation project met the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) qualification for Grasslands of Special Significance because of the sagebrush habitat, which allowed the NRCS to contribute a significant amount of funding for the easement under the Agricultural Land Easement program.  An NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Agricultural Land Easement allows for farming and ranching of properties, as well as limited residential construction. It also permanently limits the amount and type of future development. “Conserving over 2,000 acres of rangeland next to the WMA couldn’t have happened without the landowners’ vision and help from our dedicated partners. The NRCS has been a wonderful partner all along the way, helping us overcome numerous hurdles to get the ranch protected. You don’t see too many ranches of this size in this area. I can’t thank the family enough for working with us to implement their conservation vision to protect such a special place.” Josh Holmes, Land Protection Specialist for TRLT. In addition to the support received by NRCS, other partners that supported the project include the Cross Charitable Foundation, the JKL Family Foundation, the local Safari Club chapter, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and private donors.

For over 30 years, the Land Trust has worked with partner organizations and willing landowners to protect more than 39,000 acres in east Idaho through conservation easements and other voluntary conservation options.

Cover Photo:  Pine Creek Bench in Swan Valley

Three Forks in Teton Valley

Tex Creek in Bonneville County

Land Trust and longtime Teton Valley family protect scenic farmland and wetland habitat

(March 23, 2021) Teton Regional Land Trust (TRLT) and the Kearsley family recently closed on an 80-acre conservation easement that protects the family’s farm and preserves scenic open space, important wetland habitat, and a portion of two streams within the Teton River watershed. Thanks to the Kearsley family, the iconic scenic view as you enter Teton Valley coming over Pine Creek Pass on Highway 31 will remain that way. The property has been farmed by the Kearsley family for more than 100 years and this will allow them to continue that tradition.  David Kearsley worked closely with the Land Trust on the easement. “We appreciate working with TRLT on this project. Funds received through the conservation easement will allow us to keep the property in the family and keep the agricultural usage. There have been five generations of family members who have operated the farm. We look forward to having many more.”

The farm is surrounded by other private lands that were previously protected by conservation easements, making the Kearsley farm an important piece of the conservation puzzle in the Teton Valley’s south end.  Significant ecological connections tie the farm to more than 12,340 acres of other TRLT conserved properties in Teton County, as well as a number of other protected properties and public lands. Protecting the wetland and riparian habitats on the farm adds to the conservation of resources that are important for native plants, fish, and wildlife in Teton Valley, including the Greater Sandhill Crane, Long-billed Curlew, and Swainson’s Hawk.

“The Kearsley family is leaving in place a conservation legacy on the landscape that will be intact for many more generations to come.” said Josh Holmes, TRLT’s Land Protection Specialist who led this project to completion, “I can’t thank them enough for that.”

The property’s wetland attributes and the streams that flow through the farm are important contributors to the health and function of the Teton River. These features join other water sources to form the headwaters of the Teton River, which provides habitat for native fish such as the Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The wetland, floodplains, and riparian habitats within the Teton River watershed are vital to the protection of wildlife populations, nutrient cycling, water quality, erosion control, and groundwater discharge. Protection of the Kearsley farm, as well as other lands within the Teton River corridor, is an important part of securing long-term conservation of these precious resources. “Well-managed family farms and ranches play a critical role in protecting and conserving clean water, healthy streams, and a thriving wild fishery in the Teton River Watershed. Friends of the Teton River is thrilled to have been able to help bring funding support to this project”, Amy Verbeten, Executive Director of Friends of the Teton River.

In 2017, TRLT, Friends of the Teton River, and LegacyWorks Group succeeded in acquiring funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Idaho to support conservation work in Teton Valley as part of the NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Within the RCPP, the NRCS made federal matching funds available to support conservation easements in Teton Basin through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Because the Kearsley farm met the conservation goals of the Teton Basin RCPP by protecting farmland and natural resources beneficial to the health of the Teton River and wildlife species, TRLT was able to secure NRCS support through ACEP.

“NRCS is excited to welcome this parcel into ACEP,” said Wade Brown, Easement Coordinator for NRCS Idaho. “It provides a long-term grazing management program that will, in turn, improve wetland and riparian habitat. That, along with its location within the Teton Basin made it a perfect fit for our easement program.”

Conservation of the Kearsley farm builds on the protection of already conserved valley habitat and working lands that benefits both people and wildlife. For 30 years, the Land Trust has worked with partner organizations and willing landowners to protect more than 37,000 acres in east Idaho through conservation easements and other voluntary conservation options. An ACEP conservation easement allows for farming and ranching of properties, as well as limited residential construction. It also permanently limits the amount and type of future development.

More Open Space Protected Along the Teton Creek Corridor

(December 22, 2020) Last week, the Teton Regional Land Trust (TRLT) and Teton County, Idaho completed the most recent conservation easement along the Teton Creek Corridor. The property borders Teton Creek north of Cemetery Road and was once a proposed site for Teton County’s new Road and Bridge Facility. After deciding not to build there, the county considered selling the property to help finance a new site but decided instead to work with the Teton Creek Collaborative (TCC) to protect the property from future development by selling a conservation easement. The proceeds will be used to help fund the new Road and Bridge facility without having to sell public land along Teton Creek.  The property will remain in Teton County ownership with a conservation easement held by Teton Regional Land Trust. The conservation easement preserves the open space along the Teton Creek Corridor and allows for public access along a gravel pathway. The intended recreational uses for the pathway include biking, walking, and horseback riding with a winter closure to provide secure and undisturbed habitat for wintering big game. “Teton County is proud to be a partner in this collaborative effort to restore and conserve the Teton Creek Corridor for the benefit of our community,” said Cindy Riegel, Teton County, Idaho County Commissioner.

Over a one-half mile of Teton Creek flows through the property. Mature cottonwoods, aspens, and other riparian shrubs line the creek corridor. The property’s natural features also include sagebrush steppe which provides habitat for a number of wildlife species including wintering elk, white-tailed deer, and moose. Mountain lions, black bears, and other mammals frequent the creek corridor, and the area supports raptor species such as Great Gray Owl, Great Horned Owl, and Bald Eagle, along with numerous songbirds. “For a relatively small property, it has quite a bit of Teton Creek frontage, which is great for both the scenery and wildlife habitat value.  Conserving this property keeps it free from residential and industrial development while providing a unique opportunity for the community to recreate in a natural setting close to town while limiting winter public access to benefit wildlife,” said Renee Hiebert, TRLT.

The Teton Creek Collaborative, a partnership that includes the Teton Regional Land Trust, Friends of the Teton River (FTR), Valley Advocates for Responsible Development (VARD), Teton Valley Trails and Pathways (TVTAP), and LegacyWorks Group (LWG) formed in 2015 to work with other interested non-profits, municipalities, and community members to fulfill the vision put forth in the Teton County Comprehensive Plan. This vision aligned with the goals of the TCC including habitat protection and restoration, farmland protection, public pathway, and incentive-based options to reduce development within and along the corridor. “Less than two years ago, an industrial facility was proposed on this site. Now it is protected forever. This is the result of determination, collaboration, and community-driven conservation,” said Shawn Hill, VARD.

The project conserves open space for the general public to enjoy the property’s natural surroundings and the Teton Creek trail system. Establishing the public pathway along Teton Creek has been years in the making. Since 2015 TCC has been working with private property owners, Teton County, and the City of Driggs to negotiate and establish a public pathway easement between Cemetery and Stateline Roads. Once the access easements were in place, TCC, led by Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, set out to raise funds for pathway construction.

This past year, the pathway was constructed through Teton County’s property and the Land Trust’s land upstream of Cemetery Road. The partners are still working to raise the funds to connect the path all the way to Stateline Road, but are excited to share that the trail will be opening in 2021 once winter range closures are lifted. In working to balance habitat protection for wildlife with public access for our community, the pathway has been sited along the upland bench and outside the corridor to provide safety and security for wildlife. The pathway will be closed during the winter to ensure animals, like the wintering elk, have a secure space free of disturbance during that critical time for their survival.

“During the summer 2020 construction season, TVTAP completed 1.6 miles of finished gravel pathway. In 2021 TVTAP will complete the final 0.4 miles of the pathway. Work also will begin on a pedestrian bridge over Teton Creek to improve pathway connectivity and safety between Ski Hill and Cemetery Roads,” said Dan Verbeten, TVTAP.

Since this collaboration began, significant progress has been made, collectively achieving impressive results including in-stream restoration of Teton Creek, permanent protection of over 300 acres, and the establishment of pathway connectivity between Driggs and Stateline Road. Achieving the goals of the TCC is a balancing act, and the collaborative has worked hard to incorporate the desire of the community to have the ability to access nature close to Driggs while also protecting habitat for wildlife, improving flood protection, and sustaining open space and productive agricultural lands. “It’s incredible to realize how much progress has been made on this project in such a short time. At Friends of the Teton River, we are really excited about the way this project will make it possible for people to connect with the Teton Creek corridor, and to learn about all of the community benefits of protecting healthy, functioning stream channels and floodplains,” said Amy Verbeten, FTR. The Teton Creek Collaborative is excited to welcome the community to the site when the pathway opens this spring once the winter closure is lifted. For more information visit tetoncreekproject.org.

The LOR Foundation has taken a lead role in empowering the community organizations to make this project possible through their generous financial support of this conservation easement. Additional support for the conservation easement came from an agreement between Grand Targhee Resort and Teton County, Wyoming. Numerous other granting entities and individual donors including the Community Foundation of Teton Valley have generously supported other aspects of the project. “Many thanks to the visionary funders, government partners, and nonprofit leaders in our community and beyond who made this all possible. From the LOR Foundation’s initial support to all the private and public funding that followed from there, the Teton Creek Corridor project brought millions of dollars into the valley to achieve one of the community’s long-standing goals – protecting wildlife and agriculture, restoring habitat, and creating recreational access and safe pathways,” said Carl Palmer, LWG.

Wildlife Photos in Teton Creek Corridor by Marty Edwards

Homesteading Family leaves Legacy Along the South Fork – Koon Family Story

(December 17, 2020) When a family homesteads a property and is able to pass the land down to future generations, the ties to the land are strong.  And when the land lies along the beautiful banks of the South Fork of the Snake River, the motivation to conserve the land can be even stronger.  This was the case with the Koon Family.

Jack E. Koon and his son Jack Lee contacted the Teton Regional Land Trust in the early 2000s.  With such a stunning piece of land along the South Fork, they’d received vast interest over the years from realtors looking to buy and develop their family property.  Although they could have used the money, they did not want to part with the land.  Jack E.’s grandfather had homesteaded the property in 1906.  He built a sod house on the land for his family and built granaries for his crops. He was able to keep enough of the ground intact to eventually pass it down to his grandson, Jack E. Koon.  Jack E. and his wife raised a family on the land and had fond memories of fishing and camping, especially at their favorite fishing hole on Bannock Jim Slough.  Jack Lee shared stories about growing up on the property and how he did not want to let it go.  The family was very proud of having held onto it during the Depression and during the Teton Dam collapse and flood; they all had strong family connections to the place.  Jack Lee said that for about 15 years, he kept his father from selling the property during hard financial times.  Jack Lee wanted the land to be a legacy to his father and his family.  He reiterated that the family had worked very hard to hang on to this land and tried to be good stewards; he wanted to see that the hard work paid off and was appreciated.  Jack E. and his son Jack Lee agreed to conserve their land in 2010 – they conserved nearly 200 acres.  And indeed, they were good stewards.  They battled weeds with annual weed control parties with the Land Trust and neighbors. They conserved the land’s South Fork river frontage and cattle pasture, as well as habitat for one of the strongest breeding areas for nesting Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, prolific songbirds, rare orchids, and native trout.  And while Jack E.’s health was not conducive to joining annual Land Trust visits, his son Jack Lee always took time out of his busy schedule from his work at the post office to join the staff to share a proud walk on his land.

In recent years, the annual Land Trust visit would include Jack Lee’s aunt, Carol Koon; Carol is the only living sister-in-law of Jack E. Koon’s family. One of Carol’s favorite things to do was ride with Jack Lee in his pick-up to see what she could see on the ride down to the river and across hers and Jack Lee’s properties, she said “We would always see a few deer, either white-tailed or mule deer; quite often we would see a moose or two, and we would see many Bald Eagles and Blue Herons. Depending on the time of year we would see pheasants, ducks, and geese.” Carol reflects on her ties to the land and family, after moving to Idaho in September 2015, and writes: “The first year I stayed with my niece, Anita, mid-August through mid-December 2015. Each day I was there I looked across Anita’s on to my property and thought “one day I am going to have my own home right over there’; I could just imagine my home over there just like my husband Bill and I planned. The second-year I rented, brother-in-law, Bob’s trailer. I planned weekend dinners so I could get acquainted with different family members. My husband Bill was a professional chef and together for 30 years we cooked in Colorado, Arizona, and California. Bill passed away on October 23, 1996.  After Bill passed, I homeschooled our grandsons, Justis and Radigan, from pre-school through high school. I started making plans to move to Idaho in 2015. After moving to Idaho, I realized that I was not going to be able to put a home on my property and wanted to leave the property to my two grandsons, Justis and Radigan. I love this beautiful property.”

Jack E. passed away in 2018 not long after his 90th birthday. Jack Lee (son of Jack E.) passed away on December 17, 2019, in his early 60s, leaving a legacy not only for his father; but, for his sister Doris M. Hansen and their family.

Jack Lee and Jack E. Koon signing their conservation easement in 2010.

Overall, the family conserved approximately 3/4 mile of South Fork riverfront as well as Bannock Jim Slough at the confluence of two iconic rivers; the South Fork and the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, which is home to one of the most robust cottonwood galleries left in North America. The cottonwood canopy forest, including wetlands and upland habitat within the South Fork and lower Henry’s Fork river corridors, is one of the most unique and biologically diverse ecosystems in Idaho and is a stronghold for endangered Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The wetlands of this area are the first major stopover for waterbirds migrating north of the Great Salt Lake, providing critical resting and foraging areas for a half-million waterfowl and several hundred thousand other waterbird species.

Thank you, Koon Family, for your perseverance and vision to conserve this remarkable and irreplaceable landscape. We appreciate your legacy.

 

 

 

Expanded Protection of the Spring Creek Wetland in Teton Valley

On Thursday, September 17, 2020, the Teton Regional Land Trust increased the protection of a large wetland complex at the head of Spring Creek, near Tetonia, and secured important habitat for Sandhill Cranes. Just upstream of the confluence of Spring Creek and North Leigh Creek, the Spring Creek Ranch is a mix of wetlands and spring creeks surrounded by sagebrush-covered hills. In 2015, the Land Trust purchased 180 acres adjacent to their Petzoldt Preserve, a small parcel protected for its wetland habitat in 2004. The property was purchased because of the valuable wetlands that provide habitat for five Sandhill Crane nests and important fall roosting habitat for staging Sandhill Cranes. The uplands also provide critical winter range for elk and moose.

The new conservation easement will add an additional 110 acres of conserved land to the existing 200 acres already protected and enhance habitat protection for native plants, fish, and wildlife including “Species of Greatest Conservation Need”  as outlined in the Idaho State Wildlife Action Plan including Ferruginous Hawk, Sandhill Crane, Northern Leopard Frog, Common Nighthawk, Trumpeter Swan, Short-eared Owl, and Columbian Sharp-tailed grouse.  “We are very excited to protect more important habitat in Teton Valley. This land is used year-round by wildlife including wintering elk and nesting and staging Sandhill Cranes in the summer and fall,” says Joselin Matkins, Teton Regional Land Trust Executive Director.

This marks the 81st conservation easement completed in Teton Valley in partnership with willing landowners and the Land Trust. It builds on the protection of over 11,000 acres of valley habitat and working lands that benefits both people and wildlife. For 30 years, and across eastern Idaho, the Land Trust has worked with partner organizations and willing landowners for the last thirty years to protect over 34,000 acres through conservation easements and other voluntary conservation options. A conservation easement is a legal agreement that allows for farming and ranching of properties as well as limited residential construction, but permanently restricts the amount and type of future development.

 

Family Conservation on Fox Creek

“Our family has come to love this land. Enamored with its Teton views and spring creeks, we acquired the property in the late 1990s,” Nancy Huntsman shared with us. “In the spring before he passed away in 2012, my husband, Blaine, wrote to his family, ‘the land and its critters have increasingly enticed us with enduring experiences we couldn’t have foreseen when we began our journey.’ As a family, we made a deliberate choice toward stewardship and conservation. We hope that the expanded easements on Fox Creek Ranch will better protect the wildlife and rural values that originally beckoned us to Teton Valley.” The family has permanently conserved 220 acres of their Fox Creek Ranch and has significantly invested in restoring the land since taking ownership of the ranch about 30 years ago.

The Huntsman’s property adjoins almost 3,000 acres of permanently conserved private land held in easements by the Teton Regional Land Trust. It is also adjacent to 251 acres of land owned and managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, known as the Fox Creek East and West, which provide access points to the headwaters of the Teton River.

Historically, the ranch was used for livestock grazing and hay production, and today the property is still an operating ranch, but the restored riparian areas and wetlands are no longer grazed. Improving fish and wildlife habitat and associated recreation opportunities are principal goals of the Huntsman family. They have transformed the management of the property and have undertaken large-scale restoration to improve aquatic, riparian, wetland, and upland habitats.  The family has restored and enhanced over two miles of Fox Creek and a half-mile of Little Fox Creek, planted thousands of willows and other native plants along these creeks and has created a series of three wetland ponds.

Little Fox Creek is spring-fed and originates about one mile outside of the property and flows through the northern portion of the ranch before reaching Fox Creek which is a major tributary to the Teton River. Fox Creek is found to be crucial for the conservation of Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) in the Teton Basin. It is one of only three large tributaries in the Teton Valley that still shelters the redds, spawning nests, of YCT. They are an important native fish species in the Greater Yellowstone providing a significant source of food for an estimated 16 species of birds and mammals including bear, river otter, and mink. Because their populations have declined throughout their natural range, state and federal wildlife agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations, have invested in their conservation. They also play an important role in east Idaho’s world-class trout fishery.

In addition to the creeks, a series of enhanced wetland ponds lie in the southern portion of the ranch. The primary function of the ponds was initially water storage. However, since the wetland ponds and associated vegetation have become well established over the past 12 years, they have come to provide significant wildlife habitat for many bird species. In addition to waterfowl, key species including Bobolink, Long-billed Curlew, Sandhill Crane, and Trumpeter Swan can be found thriving on Fox Creek Ranch’s ponds, creeks, and meadows.

Renee Hiebert, the Land Trust’s Conservation Specialist who has worked with the Huntsman family over the years, observed that “It’s encouraging to see how connection to a piece of land can inspire a family to think bigger picture; not just about the current generations, but also about the future generations and their relationship to the land, as well as the land’s future as a part of the family”. Current ownership of Fox Creek Ranch consists of eight Huntsman Family siblings and Nancy Huntsman.

Teton Regional Land Trust has worked with partner organizations and willing landowners for the last thirty years to protect over 36,000 acres through conservation easements and other voluntary conservation options. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that allows for continued private property ownership, farming and ranching of properties as well as limited residential construction, but permanently restricts the amount and type of future development.