Bitter Root Land Trust
Bitter Root Land Trust
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About this organization
Mission
Conserving Water, Wildlife & Working Lands for All Generations with You
About
Bitter Root Land Trust completed the most successful year in our 22-year history in 2018, continuing to build a lasting legacy in the Bitterroot Valley by partnering with six local families to conserve important farm and ranchland, wildlife and fisheries habitat, scenic open space, and public recreational opportunities. These conservation victories protected over 540 acres from Stevensville to the West Fork of the Bitterroot River and preserve a diverse suite of community and natural benefits, including prime agricultural soils, spawning grounds for native trout, winter habitat for elk and mule deer, and public access to the Bitterroot River. Bitter Root Land Trust staff secured and spent over $850,000 from public and private sources to purchase conservation easements on four of these important properties, which payment was made directly to the landowner during closing and does not appear as revenue or expenses of BRLT on this 990. Additionally, Bitter Root Land Trust board and staff conducted due diligence and secured funding commitments in excess of $1,000,000 from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for several additional conservation easements on approximately 850 acres to be finalized in 2019 and 2020, ensuring the strong momentum for conservation continues in the coming years. Additionally, Bitter Root Land Trust staff expanded our cooperative land stewardship grants program that enhances natural resources on conservation easement lands and neighboring properties. As we do every year, staff monitored all 39 of our conservation easements in 2018. Bitter Root Land Trust again invested in conservation education programs to raise community awareness - among adults and students - of the importance of the Bitterroot Valleys water, wildlife, and working agricultural lands.Program Service Area 1: Conservation Project Work, Fishing and Recreational Access Projects:I.In January of 2018, Bitter Root Land Trust partnered with The Conservation Fund to purchase 70-acres and over a mile of Bitterroot River frontage adjacent to Hamilton, MT. This land, now known as Skalkaho Bend Park, will be donated to the City of Hamilton to be utilized as natural public open space and recreational access to the Bitterroot River for the community.Completed Conservation Projects: I.In March of 2018, Bitter Root Land Trust completed the 84-acre Auch Angus Ranch conservation easement with the Auch family in Corvallis, MT. This important ranch is the ninth Bitter Root Land Trust has helped local families protect in the Corvallis Agricultural Corridor, an area of the valley with the most productive soils for growing local foods. Funding for the Auch easement came from the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program.II.Also in Corvallis, Bitter Root Land Trust worked with family member-owners of the Curdy Land and Cattle Company to conserve the 105-acre Curdy Farm. The Curdy Farm is the tenth conservation easement local landowners and the Bitter Root Land Trust have partnered to complete protecting local agriculture in Corvallis. Funding for the Curdy Farm easement came from the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program.III.In December of 2018, Bitter Root Land Trust worked with the Hancock family to conserve 74 acres of hay ground in the Burnt Fork area near Stevensville, MT. Building off our neighborhood conservation initiative, the Hancock Ranch easement is the seventh in the Burnt Fork, an area where landowners have now conserved over 2,000 acres in partnership with Bitter Root Land Trust since 2011. Funding for the Hancock Ranch easement came from the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program.IV.Also in December 2018, Bitter Root Land Trust finalized a key native fisheries habitat conservation easement at the confluence of the Nez Perce and West Forks of the Bitterroot River. This 33-acre parcel is home to a variety of wildlife and is located along the banks of one of the primary native trout spawning areas in the Bitterroot, an area crucial for Westslope Cutthroat and Bull Trout.V.Finally, in December 2018, Bitter Root Land Trust completed all due diligence necessary to close the Griffin Ranch conservation easement, a 202-acre working lands project located in the Burnt Fork, adjacent to three other existing conservation easements. The Griffin Ranch conservation easement was recorded in the first days of January, 2019 but the work to protect this critical ranch was completed in 2018. Funding for the Griffin Ranch conservation easement was provided by the NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program.In addition to completing these critical conservation projects, Bitter Root Land Trust staff continued to work with local and federal partners to further agricultural conservation programs in the Bitterroot Valley that encourage high-value farmland conservation, agricultural diversification, and generational succession. Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bitter Root Land Trust identified and secured funding to conserve four additional working farms and ranches in 2018, while meetings with dozens of interested landowners yielded additional conservation projects that will proceed in 2019 and beyond. As a result of this partnership between Bitter Root Land Trust, local landowners, the NRCS, and the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program many of these landowners will choose to conserve their family lands. The Bitter Root Land Trust further implemented our collaborative neighborhood conservation model encouraging multiple landowners in identified priority areas to collectively protect their communities through conservation easements. BRLT staff followed up on previous meetings in several neighborhoods to explore mutually beneficial conservation measures, closed an additional conservation project in the Burnt Fork drainage, two in the Corvallis Agricultural Corridor, and cultivated several additional conservation easements, including our first two in the Three-Mile Drainage in the northeastern end of the valley. These neighborhoods comprise the most highly productive agricultural soils and some of the most critical wildlife connectivity in the Bitterroot Valley. Program Service Area 2: Conservation Easement Monitoring, Stewardship, and Land Management/Enhancement I.Conservation Easement Monitoring and Enforcement: Bitter Root Land Trust staff monitored all 39 of our existing conservation easements and our fee land holdings in 2018, ensuring that terms have not been violated and that conservation objectives remain intact. We further invested time developing and maintaining relationships with existing easement holders to ensure that the conservation objectives agreed to by landowners and the land trust are being upheld. II.Cooperative Weed Management Area Program: Throughout the year, the Stewardship Coordinator administered a cooperative noxious weed abatement grants for dozens of local landowners on over 10,000 acres in several key areas of the Bitterroot Valley. Bitter Root Land Trust increased landowner participation in the program in both the Burnt Fork and Corvallis areas, while launching a new cooperative weed management area in the Roaring Lion drainage for those private lands affected by the 2016 Roaring Lion fire. The Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation have partnered to support this program. In late 2018, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation renewed its grant commitment to this program for through 2020. These value-added land management grants provide ongoing support to Bitter Root Land Trusts conservation easement donors and their neighbors.Program Service Area 3: Conservation Education, During 2018, Bitter Root Land Trust continued our important education efforts through a variety of outreach techniques. During the summer months, Bitter Root Land Trust staff participated in the local Hamilton Farmers Market and provided conservation education at community events, including Teller Wildlife Refuges Youth Conservation Expo. Throughout the year, our Stewardship Coordinator focused on connecting Bitterroot Valley youth with the growing conservation ethic in our community. Additionally, Bitter Root Land Trust staff partnered with the MPG Ranch to conduct an ongoing winter eagle study focused on better understanding how bald and golden eagles utilize Bitterroot Valley private lands during winter months. Remote cameras capture eagle activity on multiple Bitter Root Land Trust easements throughout the valley, while biologists analyze the birds and behaviors captured by the cameras. Bitter Root Land Trusts annual Barn Dance drew over 300 people to the Lazy Burnt Fork Ranch in Stevensville and showcased local agriculture, conservation, and community connections.Further, our Communications Director began a partnership with Sapphire Lutheran Homes, an assisted living facility, providing opportunities for residents to connect with nature at Steve Powell
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
From their filing, the objective of the non-profit is stated as “Brlt partners with landowners and community groups to conserve the water, wildlife, and working farms and ranches in montana's bitterroot valley for all generations, utilizing conservation easements, fee purchases, and proactive land stewardship.”.
When talking about its functions, they were outlined as: “Brlt partners with landowners and community groups to conserve the water, wildlife, and working farms and ranches in montana's bitterroot valley for all generations, utilizing conservation easements, fee purchases, and proactive land stewardship.”.
- The legally reported state of operation for the non-profit is MT.
- According to the filing, the non-profit's address in 2020 is PO BOX 1806, HAMILTON, MT, 59840.
- The non-profit organization as of 2020 has a total of 7 employees reported on their form.
- Does not operate a hospital.
- Does not operate a school.
- Does not collect art.
- Does not provide credit counseling.
- Does not have foreign activities.
- Is not a donor-advised fund.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are between $250,000 and $500,000.
- Revenue is between $500,000 and $1,000,000+.
- Revenue less expenses is $82,546.
- The CEO's compensation within the organization is determined through a thorough evaluation by an impartial entity.
- The organization has a written policy that describes how long it will retain documents.
- The organization has 13 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 1997.
- The organization has a written policy that addresses conflicts of interest.
- The organization is required to file Schedule B.
- The organization is required to file Schedule O.
- The organization's financial statements were compiled or reviewed by an accountant.
- The organization pays $355,042 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $56,675 in fundraising expenses.
- The organization provides Form 990 to its governing body.
- The organization has minutes of its meetings.