FIVE VALLEYS LAND TRUST
120 HICKORY STREET NO B, MISSOULA, MT 59801 www.fvlt.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO PROTECT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS WESTERN MONTANA'S NATURAL LEGACY OUR RIVER CORRIDORS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND COMMUNITY OPEN SPACES.

OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS WESTERN MONTANA'S NATURAL LEGACY, OUR RIVER CORRIDORS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND COMMUNITY OPEN SPACES. THE FIVE VALLEYS WE SERVE ARE THE BITTERROOT, THE BLACKFOOT, THE UPPER CLARK FORK, THE LOWER CLARK FORK, AND THE MISSION-JOCKO. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHARACTER OF THESE VALLEYS, AND THE THRIVING COMMUNITIES IN THEM, IS ROOTED IN THE CLEAN RIVERS, OPEN LANDS, AND ABUNDANT WILDLIFE THAT SURROUND THEM. WE WORK WITH COMMUNITIES, PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, GOVERNMENTS, AND OTHER PARTNERS TO PROTECT THESE NATURAL TREASURES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THIS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

LAND PROTECTION:THE ORGANIZATION PROTECTS CLEAN WATER, WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES USING FEE ACQUISITION AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OF PRIVATE LANDS. LANDOWNERS ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH THE ORGANIZATION VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWING THEIR LAND HOLDS SPECIAL VALUE TO THEM AND TO THE PUBLIC. EASEMENTS HELD BY THE ORGANIZATION HOLD NO FINANCIAL VALUE, AND THE LANDOWNER RETAINS FULL OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND. THE COST TO ACQUIRE PURCHASED OR DONATED EASEMENTS IS EXPENSED AS INCURRED. IN 2018, THE ORGANIZATION STARTED RECORDING IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS TO REPRESENT THE LOST VALUE OF LAND OWNERS WHO PUT IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. THE VALUE OF IN-KIND EASEMENT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2018, IS $1,014,000 AND $811,970, RESPECTIVELY, AND IS INCLUDED AS REVENUE AND EXPENSES IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED FIVE EASEMENT PROJECTS AND THREE LAND FEE CLOSING PROJECTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED SIX EASEMENT PROJECTS AND ONE FEE LAND PROJECT. SINCE INCEPTION, THE ORGANIZATION HAS IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES TO CONVERT PRIVATELY HELD LANDS INTO PUBLIC LANDS OVER SEVERAL AREAS IN WESTERN MONTANA. EXAMPLES OF THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE ALBERTON GORGE, HIAWATHA ROUTE, MOUNT JUMBO, MOUNT SENTINEL, AND THE RATTLESNAKE GREENWAY. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2019, THE ORGANIZATION HELD A TOTAL OF 173 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING A COMBINED 80,777 ACRES OF LAND. AT DECEMBER 31, 2018, THE ORGANIZATION HELD A TOTAL OF 171 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING A COMBINED 84,952 ACRES OF LAND.LANDS WE PROTECTEDHAYES-HARRISON-POTOMAC CONSERVATION EASEMENT: THE POTOMAC VALLEY IS KNOWN FOR ITS AGRICULTURE, QUIET CREEKS FLOWING INTO THE BLACKFOOT RIVER, AND THE SURROUNDING WILDS OF THE GARNET AND RATTLESNAKE MOUNTAIN RANGES. IN JULY, FIVE VALLEYS AND LANDOWNER ANNA MARIE HAYES-HARRISON FINALIZED THE HAYES-HARRISON-POTOMAC CONSERVATION EASEMENT, PROTECTING 597 ACRES OF THIS PICTURESQUE VALLEY. NINETY-FOUR PERCENT OF THE PROPERTY INCLUDES LOCALLY AND STATEWIDE IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL SOILS, AS IDENTIFIED BY THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS). THE PROPERTY'S PASTURES, FORESTS, AND 16 ACRES OF WETLANDS, PROVIDE HABITAT FOR A VARIETY OF WILDLIFE, INCLUDING ELK, DEER, BLACK AND GRIZZLY BEARS, TURKEYS, AND NUMEROUS SMALLER BIRDS AND MAMMALS. THE PROPERTY ALSO BORDERS OTHER FIVE VALLEYS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, WHICH ENSURES HABITAT CONNECTIVITY FOR A HOST OF SPECIES. TRAVELERS OF HIGHWAY 200 ARE TREATED TO THIS SCENIC PANORAMA AS THEY PASS THROUGH THE VALLEY.THE PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY FUNDING FROM THE NRCS' AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENT PROGRAM, THE MISSOULA COUNTY OPEN SPACE BOND PROGRAM, AND A DONATION FROM THE LANDOWNER. WITH THE HELP OF THE HAYES FAMILY AND OTHERS, FIVE VALLEYS IS PROUD TO HAVE PROTECTED OVER 2,800 ACRES OF THE POTOMAC VALLEY TO DATE, ENSURING THAT IT CAN REMAIN THE BEAUTIFUL, PRODUCTIVE AND ICONIC VALLEY IT IS.BUXBAUM-BOULDER CREEK CONSERVATION EASEMENT: IN MAY, FIVE VALLEYS WAS PLEASED TO COMPLETE THE BUXBAUM-BOULDER CREEK CONSERVATION, WHICH PROTECTED 1,173 ACRES OF THE SWEEPING AND SCENIC FLINT CREEK VALLEY LANDSCAPE.THE BUXBAUM RANCH IS LOCATED IN THE FLINT CREEK RANGE, JUST TO THE EAST OF MAXVILLE. BOULDER CREEK WINDS ALONG THE PROPERTY'S WESTERN BOUNDARY. NEAR HIGHWAY 1, IN THE RANCH'S LOWLANDS, LIE OVER 120 ACRES OF PRIME AND IMPORTANT SOILS, AS DESIGNATED BY THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS). HIGHER UP INTO THE FLINT CREEK RANGE, WOODY DRAWS AND GRASSLAND HILLS PROVIDE FOR THE BUXBAUM'S CATTLE, AND HABITAT FOR DEER, ELK, MOUNTAIN LIONS, AND VARIOUS SMALL MAMMALS AND BIRDS, INCLUDING SEVERAL MONTANA SPECIES OF CONCERN, SUCH AS THE NORTHERN GOSHAWK, PILEATED WOODPECKER, CASSIN'S FINCH, AND CLARK'S NUTCRACKER. THE PROPERTY ALSO HOSTS SEVERAL SPRING-FED PONDS AND WETLANDS, A HABITAT FEATURE OF SPECIAL ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE.THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ALSO PROVIDES A NEW PUBLIC HUNTING ACCESS, AND THROUGH THIS HUNTING ACCESS, ENTRANCE TO ADJACENT PUBLIC LANDS. HUNTING ACCESS WILL BE MANAGED BY THE MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS' BLOCK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.THE PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE NRCS AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENT PROGRAM, THE STATE OF MONTANA NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE PROGRAM, THE CINNABAR FOUNDATION, THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES INITIATIVE, AND OTHER PRIVATE SUPPORTERS INCLUDING THE LANDOWNERS. THANKS TO THE BUXBAUMS AND THE PROJECT'S MANY PARTNERS, THIS PART OF THE FLINT CREEK VALLEY WILL REMAIN INTACT FOR WILDLIFE, AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL USE, AND ACCESSIBLE TO FUTURE MONTANANS, IN PERPETUITY.THE GRAVELEY RANCH CONSERVATION PROJECT: IN JUNE, FIVE VALLEYS FINALIZED TWO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT, WHEN COMBINED, MAKE UP FIVE VALLEYS' LARGEST CONSERVATION PROJECT TO DATE: THE GRAVELEY RANCH PROJECT. LOCATED OUTSIDE OF GARRISON, AND VISIBLE FROM I-90, THE SCENIC GRAVELEY RANCH ROLLS FROM THE EAST GARNET MOUNTAINS INTO JUNIPER-SAGEBRUSH STEPPES AND HIGH MONTANE GRASSLANDS, DOWN INTO CONIFERS STANDS AND TRACKS OF RIPARIAN HABITAT ALONG BROCK CREEK, BEAR GULCH, WARM SPRINGS CREEK AND THE CLARK FORK RIVER. TUCKED AWAY INTO THESE HILLS, A SPRING BUBBLES INTO A LARGE WATERFALL FEATUREA RARITY IN THIS REGION.WITH THE HELP OF THE CONSERVATION FUND, WHO PURCHASED THE ADJACENT RANCH AND HELD IT WHILE FIVE VALLEYS AND THE GRAVELEYS WORKED THROUGH THE EASEMENT PROCESS, AND 8,277 ACRES OF WORKING LANDS AND WILDLIFE HABITAT WAS PROTECTED. THE LAND PROVIDES FOR ELK, MULE DEER, ANTELOPE, BLACK AND GRIZZLY BEARS, AND SEVERAL MONTANA SPECIES OF CONCERN, INCLUDING THREE SPECIES OF BAT, BOREAL OWL, LONG-BILLED CURLEW, AND WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT. THE PROJECT PROTECTED OVER THREE MILES OF WARM SPRING CREEK, AN IMPORTANT RECRUITMENT FISHERY FOR THE CLARK FORK RIVER. THE RANCH PROVIDES HABITAT CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE UPPER CLARK FORK AND FLINT CREEK VALLEYS, THROUGH ITS PROXIMITY TO OTHER CONSERVATION LANDS. THE PROJECT ALSO THE PROTECTS THE PUBLIC HUNTING ACCESS THAT THE GRAVELEYS HAVE LONG OFFERED THROUGH MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS' (FWP) BLOCK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN PERPETUITY.THE PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY FUNDING FROM THE MONTANA NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE PROGRAM, THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES INITIATIVE, PRIVATE DONATIONS, AND THE LANDOWNERS. FIVE VALLEYS IS GRATEFUL TO THE PROJECT PARTNERS AND THE GRAVELEY FAMILY FOR THEIR VISION, PATIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THIS PART OF THE LITTLE BLACKFOOT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.THISTED-JOSEPHINE CREEK CONSERVATION EASEMENT: SOMETIMES, PROTECTION OF THE LAND CAN ALSO MEAN IMPROVING IT. IN OCTOBER, FIVE VALLEYS AND THE THISTED FAMILY COMPLETED THE 150-ACRE THISTED-JOSEPHINE CREEK CONSERVATION EASEMENT, ENSURING THAT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SCENIC VIEWS WILL BE PROTECTED, AND THAT ONGOING STREAM RECLAMATION WORK WILL CONTINUE.THE THISTED-JOSEPHINE CREEK CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROTECTS A STRETCH OF JOSEPHINE CREEK AND AN UNNAMED STREAM IN THE HEART OF RUGGED AND SCENIC NINEMILE VALLEY. THE RIPARIAN CEDAR FOREST AND SHRUB HABITATS OF THE THISTED PROPERTY SUPPORT A WIDE ARRAY OF WILDLIFE, INCLUDING MOOSE, BLACK AND GRIZZLY BEARS, MOUNTAIN LIONS, AND GRAY WOLVES. THANKS TO ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OTHER CONSERVATION LANDS, THE PROPERTY HELPS PROVIDE MOVEMENT CORRIDORS FOR SPECIES SUCH AS GRIZZLY BEAR, WOLVERINE, AND FISHER. WESTERN PEARLSHELL MUSSELS AND WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT, A MONTANA SPECIES OF CONCERN, MAKE A HOME IN UPPER JOSEPHINE CREEK'S COLD, CLEAR WATERS.IN CONTRAST, LOWER JOSEPHINE CREEK WAS HEAVILY IMPACTED BY HISTORIC PLACER MINING. MONTANA TROUT UNLIMITED (TU) AND THEIR PARTNERS HAVE WORKED TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF MINING IN THE LOWER CLARK FORK RIVER REGION FOR MANY YEARS. GOING FORWARD, TU WILL CONTINUE TO RESTORE LOWER JOSEPHINE CREEK AND CAN DO SO KNOWING THEIR IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE PROTECTED BY THE THISTED-JOSEPHINE CREEK CONSERVATION EASEMENT.BLUEBIRD-NORTH HILLS PROJECT: LOOKING OUT FROM THE WESTERN EDGE OF MISSOULA'S NORTH HILLS LIES THE 124-ACRE BLUEBIRD-NORTH HILLS PROPERTY. WORKING WITH COMMUNITY-MINDED LANDOWNERS J. GRANT LINCOLN AND GARY D. COONEY, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THE CONSERVATION FUND, FIVE VALLEYS MOVED QUICKLY TO PURCHASE THE LAND AS AN INTERIM OWNER WITH THE AIM OF TRANSFERRING IT TO THE CITY OF MISSOULA WITH THE HELP OF MISSOULA OPEN SPACE BOND FUNDS. THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE NOW-PROTECTED PROPERTY TO THE CITY OF MISSOULA WAS FINALIZED IN THE FALL OF 2019.FUTURE TRAILS ON THE BLUEBIRD-NORTH HILLS PROPERTY WILL BENEFIT THE RAPIDLY-GROWING NEIGHBORHOODS WEST OF RESERVE STREET, AN AREA THAT IS EXPECTED TO SEE THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES IN THE COMING YEARS. THE BLUEBIRD TRAILHEAD WILL BE DEVELOPED OFF OF THE MONTANA SNOWBOWL PARK AND RIDE LOT ON GRANT CREEK ROAD, THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF SNOWBOWL'S MORRIS FAMILY. IN ADDITION TO SPECTACULAR VIEWS, THE PROPERTY PROVIDES HABITAT FOR A VARIETY OF

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