Preserving Ranch Land in Summit County
The organization holds conservation easements on almost 2,000 acres throughout the county and recently created a Rural Preservation Program to actively assist landowners in the process of placing conservation easements on their property. According to Jennifer Guetschow, Executive Director of SLC, many working ranch owners have contacted their organization about options to conserve their farms and ranches for future generations.
“We have not had the fortunate experience to receive a direct donation of land from a landowner yet, however the possibility always exists and we would welcome such generosity,” she says.
The financial incentive for most ranchers looking to protect the value of agriculture on their land is paramount. The federal government has two programs that offer to buy development rights from the rancher. This can take several years as it is a very competitive program. Once the federal agreement is finalized, the Summit Land Conservancy steps in and places a conservation easement on the land. They assume responsibility for its stewardship in terms of its development status. The landowner continues to own the land and make decisions about managing the ranch in perpetuity. This easement runs with the deeded land and the property is preserved as the owner intended, forever.
In identifying potential ranches for easements, the SLC uses a federal point system for evaluating which land conservation proposals should be funded.
Guetschow adds, “The system is as fair and without prejudice as possible. However, the biggest threat to our important and irreplaceable farm and cattle lands is the lack of statewide funding to purchase development rights. Other western states are dealing with hundreds of millions for the purchase of open space. Here we have less than $5 million statewide.”
The Summit Land Conservancy works well with other local and national organizations protecting land. They depend on public financial support to fund their monitoring and stewardship programs as well as their legal defense. Park City voters have been willing to bond for open space preservation. Unfortunately, that money is not available for purchase of land in eastern Summit County, where most of our working ranches are located.
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