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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Family protects forestland acreage

The Spokesman-Review
A Bonner County family is protecting its 643 acres of private forestland from future development through a conservation easement. The acreage has been in Jim and Virginia Wood’s family for more than 70 years. The family will continue to own the land – raising cattle, harvesting timber and recreating there – but the property cannot be subdivided. Robb McCracken, executive director of the Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Conservancy, said the Woods operate a model cattle ranch and timber operation. Located in the Grouse Creek and Gold Creek drainages, their property also has high wildlife values, he said. “This very scenic land is next to the national forest, and it provides critical habitat and a wildlife corridor for elk, moose, bear and many other wildlife,” he said. Streams on the property provide habitat for bull trout and cutthroat trout.