Gallatin Valley Land Trust completes 100 conservation easements
8/9/2016 Bozeman Daily Chronicle, photo by Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
The Gallatin Valley Land Trust has completed 100 conservation easements covering 45,000 acres, the group announced Monday.
The latest deal preserves 959 acres of farmland owned by the Toohey family north of Bozeman from residential or commercial development.
“Despite considerable pressures, our family has been able to withstand the temptation for developing that land and has continued to operate the property as a family farm and ranch,” said Tim Toohey in a prepared statement. “We want to be able to preserve this land for generations to come because it represents a way of life that once was common in the valley, but is unfortunately rapidly disappearing.”
A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement with landowners that limits development on a property while keeping it in private ownership. Some landowners are paid and/or receive tax benefits.