What
has the Palouse Land Trust accomplished?
Conserving the open space, wildlife habitat, water quality, and scenery of
the Palouse is our focus. We worked with more than a dozen different landowners.
We shared information about conservation easements and other planning tools,
and made referrals. We currently have one forestland conservation easement
in the final stages of development.
Emerald Creek Easement
View
the property
In September, the PLT formalized a
conservation easement on 80 a of ecologically valuable wetlands and river
banks owned by the Emerald Creek Garnet Co. The lands are designated
wetlands with some timber, border the St. Maries River and are located at
the juncture of Benewah and Shoshone Counties. The easement came about
through a permit application to the Corp of Engineers from Emerald Creek Co
to mine the area for garnets. A permit was necessary because the area is a
formally designated wetland. The full permit application process took the
company about 7 years. Because of the unique character of the area, the
permit was eventually granted contingent on the company's placing a
conservation easement on all of the wetland area. The PLT was requested to
hold the easement. Mining operations on the land will commence in the near
future and the lands will be fully restored to their pre-mined condition by
the company.
The easement is highly restrictive, permitting no development of any kind or
any kind of vehicle access except for fenceline maintenance. No grazing will
be allowed. The lands will continue to be owned by the company and as in the
past will be open, other than when mining operations are in action, to
recreational use such as fishing on the river.
Idler's Rest Nature Preserve Moscow-Pullman
Daily News article March 1, 2005
This popular site, 35 acres of cedars, pines and firs just minutes from Moscow,
was The Nature Conservancy's first acquisition in Idaho. The Palouse
Land Trust signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly manage this property,
including rewriting the management plan and working with Palouse Clearwater
Environmental Institute on educational activities on the property.
Moscow Mountain
The view is spectacular from the top of Moscow Mountain. There is renewed
interest in managing recreational use of two prominent areas at the top of
Moscow Mountain: the ancient cedar grove and the site of the old lookout.
Both are part of 297 acres of state school endowment land, once proposed as
Century Cedars State Park. Recent meetings reflect the broad support for creating
a park on top of Moscow Mountain. Participants in informal discussions have
included Latah County Parks and Recreation, the City of Troy, Bennett Lumber/Tree
Farms, the Nature Conservancy, Idaho Department of Lands, local residents,
recreational bicyclists, University of Idaho, the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental
Institute and the Palouse Land Trust. The Idaho Department of Lands is eager
to trade for other land, but by state constitution, school endowment land
must be traded or sold at public auction.
If you'd like to see Moscow Mountain protected, tell the Latah County Commissioners,
write the governor, and encourage a broad coalition of local organizations
to work together to make this happen.
Historical Wetlands
More than 98% of the area once in wetlands has been lost in the Palouse. Because
wetlands can attract wildlife, act as sponges for spring floods, and filter
sediment and nutrients from runoff water, many people have suggested restoring
some wetlands along streams and lowlands in the Palouse. They were once home
to the beautiful camas lily. The Palouse Land Trust is cooperating on research
funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Researchers will describe
the extent and plant composition of wetlands in the past, and develop environmental
education programs about wetlands. The Idaho Fish and Game and the University
of Idaho lead the project.
Strategic Planning and Board Development Grant Application
We have approved and implemented a Strategic Plan, through an organizational
development grant from the Land Trust Alliance Northwest.
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