Cerise Acquisition 2013

The acquisition of the Cerise Ranch focused on two work sites: Lemhi River (682) and Hughes Creek (80 acres).
Originally as part of this project the landowner would look for a suitable replacement property.
On July 8, 2015, a non-binding extension through December 31, 2015, expressing a commitment on behalf of the project sponsor and the Office of Species Conservation was provided to the landowner as he expressed an interest in continuing to look for a suitable replacement property, or pursue a conservation easement on the existing property.
By October 2015 the landowner indicated he was unable to find a suitable property.
All parties agreed that if a suitable property was not found and if the landowner decided he did not want to pursue a conservation easement by the end of November 2015, the project funds would no longer be allocated to this project.
The landowner was unsuccessful in finding a replacement property nor did he want to pursue a conservation easement. By November 30, 2015, the project was terminated as some project funds were expended for due diligence actions.

Completed due diligence resulted in the production of the following reports and documents:
1. LeMoyne Appraisal L.L.C., 10/9/13, Property Appraisal of Cerise Property, 132pgs.
2. Rocky Mountain Environmental Associates, Inc (RMEA), 11/6/13, Environmental Site Assessment, 4pgs.
3. RMEA, 12/5/13, Mineral Assessment Report, 26pgs.
4. RMEA, 12/17/13, AST Release Investigation and Cleanup report, 27pgs. (5,500 gal diesel tank/soil testing)
5, Idaho DEQ, 3/3/14, No Further Action Required Letter, 2pgs. (re: 5,500 gal diesel tank)

Conservation easements over the Cerise Ranch will ensure permanent protection and establish management practices that will enhance conservation values over the property and its allotments. Specific actions on the Lemhi site will increase flow at L6 ensuring improved in-migration for adult Chinook salmon to spawning and rearing habitat in the Upper Lemhi. Increased flow will also improve success of out-migration and survival of Chinook and steelhead smolts and pre-smolts. In low spring runoff years increasing flow at L-6 will help in-migration of adult steelhead into the Lemhi River system. Over time permanent habitat protection for the Lemhi River and Hughes Creek will improve streamside vegetative cover and improve temperature conditions for fish. As floodplain conditions improve lateral habitat will increase. Improving grazing practices on public lands in Hughes Creek will benefit the overall habitat conditions for native fish in this watershed.