Nearly 1,600 acres of farmland between Three Forks and Manhattan will remain undeveloped.

“I have watched this valley change so much,” says John McDonnell. “I don’t ever want to see this property, which has been in my family for generations, get covered in asphalt and houses. 

“We want to keep this space open so our family can continue to farm from generation to generation,” explains Darren Braaksma.

Helping landowners utilize the tool of conservation easements to forever conserve their land is just the beginning of a long-term partnership between landowners and GVLT.

GVLT and Crosscut Mountain Sports Center joined together to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of a 276-acre conservation easement that forever protects a significant portion of the internationally renowned sports center in Bridger Canyon.

We are optimistic the future of this valley can include large blocks of protected open space, wildlife habitat, farm and ranch land, and healthy rivers—AND a walkable, livable urban core for our growing community.

In cooperation with generous landowners, we closed our 128^th conservation easement on a 407-acre property located along the Jefferson River west of Three Forks.

Land conservation does not end with the establishment of a conservation easement; it is just the beginning of a long-term partnership between a landowner and GVLT, and a perpetual effort to maintain each property for its conservation values.

GVLT is excited to announce the completion of the Alaska Ranch conservation easement near the town of Twin Bridges in Madison County.

The Camp Creek Land and Cattle Company is the latest addition to an 8,500-acre block of conserved land in the Amsterdam/Churchill area, a region of strategic conservation focus for GVLT.

The Trout Creek farm is located in GVLT’s East Gallatin River strategic focus area and is nestled in between two existing conservation easements, adding to a large block of contiguous land that will never be developed.

Nearly a decade ago, GVLT and Haven collaborated on a project that came to fruition earlier this month, one which promises to make our community better.

Arthur Blank established a conservation easement on his 8,800-acre Paradise Valley Ranch in partnership with the Gallatin Valley Land Trust.

Simply put, a conservation easement is a tool that helps Montana farm and ranch lands stay farm and ranch lands.

“The point of the program was to work with willing landowners to keep agricultural lands in agriculture, while also protecting water quality, open space, and wildlife habitat,” said Barb Cestero, who worked on the 2000 bond campaign.

Our community can feel extra jolly this holiday season because four conservation projects received approval for funding through the Gallatin County Open Lands Program.

Gallatin County’s Open Lands Program, and the property tax levy that helps fund it, will help achieve the goal of keeping as much of the area as possible free from development.

Flight monitoring is changing the conservation easement monitoring game. Learn when and how GVLT’s Stewardship team uses flight monitoring.

The 13^th and most recently completed conservation easement in the Gooch Hill area closed in May 2022, thanks to Ron and Janice Bos of Bos Hay & Grain.

At a recent GVLT Board meeting, Matt and Sarah Skoglund of North Bridger Bison expressed their thanks for helping them to complete a conservation easement on their ranch in Sedan.