February 25th Wildlife Ski
Join Teton Regional Land Trust for a Winter Wildlife Ski Tour February 25th from 9:30am until noon.
Bring your cross country skis and explore winter wildlife on a conservation easement with Stewardship Director Matt Lucia.For more information about the ski and to sign up, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 208-354-8939.
Teton River Habitat Protection Improved
L
ooking east from Rusty and Karen Vest’s property along Packsaddle Road you’ll take in a spectacular view of the Tetons. To the west, the Big Hole Mountains loom behind the willow-laden banks of the Teton River. Their 120 acre property and the adjacent 40 acres was once proposed and approved for a 12 lot subdivision complete with a commercial fishing lodge. This level of development would have had an impact on the river, the fishery, the active bald eagle nest, the big game, wintering trumpeter swans and certainly the scenery for the public using the Teton River. Fortunately for our community the Vests did not want to see the property developed. The Vests worked with the Teton Regional Land Trust in 2005 to craft a conservation easement to permanently protect the 120 acres along the Teton River.
Recently, the Vests purchased the additional 40 acres to the east of their existing property. The newly acquired acreage has been under conservation easement since 2004. The Vests decided to further protect the property’s conservation value by eliminating the possibility of development completely. The couple worked with the Land Trust to amend the 2004 conservation easement that originally allowed for one home on the 40 acres. The Vest’s amendment to the conservation easement now eliminates any development on the land. The amendment was recorded with the county last week.
TRLT Receives Grant from Teton Springs Foundation
T
eton Regional Land Trust truly appreciates a generous grant awarded by Teton Springs Foundation towards the purchase of a pickup truck. The truck will replace two older unreliable vehicles.
The vehicle will provide Teton Regional Land Trust with adequate equipment for meeting with potential easement donors, performing required easement visits, performing property maintenance tasks, hauling equipment and material to habitat restoration sites and taking conservation partners, members and donors on outreach tours.
The Teton Springs Foundation was established by the resort founders as a means for the community to benefit directly from the development's success. For each property sold in Teton Springs, the Teton Springs Foundation receives 1% of the value of the home site. Twice per year, the foundation grants funding requests to non-profit organizations serving the residents of Teton Valley. Teton Springs Foundation has funded 35 local nonprofit organizations for over $780,000.
“The Teton Valley nonprofit organizations are lucky to have such a generous program in the county,” said Teton Regional Land Trust Executive Director Chet Work. “We appreciate the Teton Springs Foundation’s support.”
Photo by Jeannette Boner of the Valley Citizen
Songs From the Land
