Touchet River Martin Conservation Easement

The Blue Mountain Land Trust purchased a conservation easement to protect 35 acres of a 43 acre parcel zoned for dense development along the Touchet River, 2 miles southwest of Dayton. The conservation easement protects 35 acres of floodplain from future development along both sides of the river for 0.6 mile. This section of river is utilized for steelhead spawning and by bull trout and chinook salmon.

This land is currently zoned AR-1 and could have been divided into 1 ½ acre lots. Three adjoining 4 acre lots have already been created and sold and additional 2 acre lots are being created just east of subject property, demonstrating the development pressure present.

An NRCS fencing project was in place to prevent livestock access and grazing on the river banks accept where a water gap existed. In addition to removing development and mineral extraction potential within this 35 acre area, the landowner moved the fence location back 75 feet from the river to further protect the bank by prohibiting motorized vehicle use, grazing and other activities that could degrade the riparian habitat values. This established two zones within the easement area: an agricultural zone and a riparian zone. Only passive recreational activities and habitat improvements will be allowed within the fenced riparian zone. Outside the fence, agricultural uses will be allowed, but no development.

Weed control was completed on 1.2 acres of the riparian zone.

The goal of the project is to protect and restore native riparian vegetation along salmon bearing streams. The objective of the project is to protect and restore natural streamside vegetation, improve stream temperature, reduce erosion, filtration, and recruit large woody debris.