Area’s first land trust begins protecting open spaces

POCATELLO, Idaho – A group of people who formed the first land trust in southeast Idaho hopes to have the first parcel on their list of critical wildlife habitat areas protected in perpetuity by the end of this month.

The Sagebrush Steppe Regional Land Trust received its nonprofit status in November.

Members are already considering inclusion of lands in seven more counties as they work to protect open space, farm and ranch land, and wildlife habitat.

The first parcel is 150 acres on the Bear River and a tributary of the Upper Blackfoot River.

If the group is successful, the protected area will offer new fishing access to anglers.

There are more than 1,200 independent land trusts in the nation protecting more than 6.2 million acres of land, according to the national Land Trust Alliance.