Bear River Land Conservancy

"Land Protection" includes: 1) working with private landowners to apply for easement funding to protect private lands that provide public values; 2) applying for funding from various grant programs to protect and steward other private lands; and 3) implementing a strategic conservation plan to guide the organization toward the most important lands for conservation. This year, specific accomplishments included: The closure of one entity held easement as well as the procurement of significant resources for future easement projects. Revenue came from completing a fee for service Baseline Documentation Report.

"Outreach" is primarily education efforts directed at the public and elected officials to increase their understanding of the value of conservation. This year's activities included production and distribution of a newsletter to 1000+ constituents, outreach and education regarding the open space bond and land protection, and engaging volunteers in conservation and monitoring efforts. BRLC also held an open house and supported university student learning opportunities.

"Stewardship" included 1) managing the 455 acre Bear River Bottoms conservation easement, monitoring this property and adjacent properties for weed infestations, monitoring for compliance with restrictions outlined in the easement document, managing grazing leases used to control weeds and weedy native vegetation, planning for future management; 2) monitoring the 3 acre Lakota conservation easement for compliance with restrictions outlined in the easement document; 3) monitoring the 25.5 acre Schiess conservation easement for compliance with restrictions outlined in the easement document; 4) Assisting the USFWS with monitoring a 4,081 acre conservation easement; 4) managing a 30 acre fee property that is owned and managed to protect a threatened species of orchid and for its open space values. Revenue came from grazing leases used to manage vegetation and habitat at Bear River Bottoms and Mendon Meadows.