Trust Secures Land

Conservation

A choice 1,300 acres along Crab Creek in Lincoln County has been purchased for preservation by the Inland Northwest Land Trust.

The Spokane-based conservation group purchased the land using funds from an anonymous grant, said Linda Martin, president.

“While preserving the fragile ecosystems, we plan to lease the property and experiment with the best methods of sustainable farming,” Martin said.

Educational programs, and possibly some hunting and fishing opportunities, may be allowed in the future after rehabilitation plans and agreements are negotiated with lessees, she said.

The property includes a blend of basalt outcrops, spring-fed ponds, aspen stands, sage and grasslands, with Crab Creek running through the middle of the parcel.

The trust, formed in 1991, is a nonprofit organization that seeks to conserve lands in Eastern Washington and North Idaho that fall outside of government or other protection programs.

Typically the trust will work out conservation easements that benefit the landowner for tax purposes, yet leave the land in private ownership.

The organization’s annual meeting is set for Thursday, 7 p.m., at the Department of Ecology Building, 4601 N. Monroe.

, DataTimes