Land Protected > Preserves New Porcupine Creek Preserve - Securing Access to Public Lands!!
July 17, 2009: In March, the Wood River Land Trust acquired 100 acres of land in the Pioneer Mountains 12 miles from Hailey to protect habitat for a variety of wildlife and maintain access to public lands beyond. Situated along a stretch of Porcupine Creek, a tributary of the Little Wood River, the property is adjacent to land managed by BLM and the Sawtooth National Forest. The Land Trust will take steps to protect and improve riparian and water resources, restrict motorized uses to the main road, and create a designated parking area.
Porcupine Creek is part of a migration corridor for elk and mule deer between higher-elevation Forest Service lands and lower-elevation BLM and private properties. The habitat provides year-round habitat for elk and also supports beaver, black bear, migratory songbirds, moose, Wood River sculpin, and seasonal use by greater sage grouse. Neighboring BLM lands have been designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern to protect sensitive wildlife resources.
Because it was zoned for residential development on 40-acre lots, Porcupine Creek’s conservation values were threatened. “We purchased the property to conserve wildlife habitat and maintain public access to surrounding public lands,” noted Nathan Welch, Planning Coordinator for the Land Trust. “This has long been an important area for recreational access, especially hiking and hunting....”
Little Wood Headwaters Ranch, LLC, which is owned by Beartooth Capital, an investment group specializing in ecologically significant lands, was the previous landowner. “It has been a pleasure to work with the Land Trust to ensure the public will forever have access to the Porcupine Creek trailhead....That part of the Pioneers is remarkably wild and beautiful," commented Carl Palmer of Beartooth Capital.
Since the Land Trust was created in 1994, Porcupine Creek marks the 13th parcel of land acquired for designation as a preserve. The purchase was made possible by generous donations from individuals and foundations to the Land Trust’s Open Space Fund. |
| Preserves are permanently protected pieces of land owned by, cared for, and restored by Wood River Land Trust. These areas are open to the public for fishing, hiking, bird and wildlife watching, and other activities.
Preserves
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