Three new conservation easements protect Gallatin Valley rivers
December 3, 2014 / Bozeman Daily Chronicle by Laura Lundquist
Three Gallatin Valley landowners have joined dozens of others in preserving not only the rural character of the valley but also the health of its rivers.
On Tuesday, the Gallatin County Commission approved grants for conservation easements on two riverfront properties and gave its blessing to a third easement, all of which will end up protecting segments of the Gallatin and Madison rivers.
Conservation easements can benefit both landowners and area residents who moved to Montana to get away from larger cities. The problem is, as more people move into the Gallatin Valley, the open spaces are slowly being filled in and valuable agricultural land is lost.