Hanging T Ranch Conservation Easement, Phase 1

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) received funding from PCSRF to acquire a conservation easement (CE) over 1425-acres of the Hanging T Ranch, located in the Pahsimeroi River Valley. TNC intended to build on significant investments made to protect and restore anadromous fish habitat on ranches in the Pahsimeroi River Valley. This conservation easement was negotiated with the landowner to ensure the ability for large scale partner-led river restoration to occur on approximately 3.5 miles of the Pahsimeroi River in years that followed. The overarching goal was to increase the quality and availability of spawning and rearing habitat important for anadromous fish recovery. To this end, TNC sought to acquire a conservation easement on approximately 1425-acres of land currently comprising the highest quality fish habitat associated with the 2440-acre Hanging T Ranch.

TNC negotiated the terms of the CE, secured a real-estate appraisal to determine value, and helped partners negotiate restoration outcomes. As part of the due diligence, TNC discovered exceptions on title that required the landowner to address/resolve in order to provide the assurances necessary for TNC to uphold and legally defend the terms of the conservation easement. The landowner decided to terminate engagement on the sale of the conservation easement. The landowner and partners are continuing to advance the restoration outcomes identified through the negotiations.

1. Negotiate the terms of the conservation easement that will protect 1425-acres of working ranchland and wildlife habitat.

2. Negotiate the terms of the conservation easement that will protect and restore approximately 3.5 miles of the Pahsimeroi River, as well as associated riparian and floodplain habitat.

3. Through Phase I and Phase 2 of this project, TNC will add to a network of protected and restored ranches in the Pahsimeroi River Valley.

4. Obligate the landowner to river restoration activities that will address juvenile rearing capacity limitations in the Pahsimeroi watershed. These activities will include actions such as construction of side channels, instream habitat work, and activating floodplain connectivity.