Five Valleys Land Trust Inc

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 TO LAND OWNERS WHO PUT IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. THE VALUE OF IN-KIND EASEMENT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020 WAS $48,000 AND $-0-, RESPECTIVELY, AND IS INCLUDED AS REVENUE AND EXPENSES IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED TWO EASEMENT PROJECTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED ONE EASEMENT PROJECT AND SOLD THE MOUNT DEAN STONE CORRIDOR TO THE CITY OF MISSOULA. THE MOUNT DEAN STONE CORRIDOR CONSISTS OF SIX PROPERTIES OWNED BY THE ORGANIZATION AS OF JANUARY 1, 2020. IN CONSIDERATION FOR THE PROPERTY, THE CITY OF MISSOULA PAID CASH AND ASSUMED LIABILITIES FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $922,233. 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, 2021, THE ORGANIZATION HELD A TOTAL OF 194 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING A COMBINED 81,195 ACRES OF LAND. AT DECEMBER 31, 2020, THE ORGANIZATION HELD A TOTAL OF 193 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING A COMBINED 80,971 ACRES OF LAND.LAND STEWARDSHIPTHE ORGANIZATION'S STEWARDSHIP STAFF WORKS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO IMPROVE PROTECTED LANDS FOR THEIR CONSERVATION PURPOSE. THE ORGANIZATION ENLISTS A BROAD GROUP OF PARTNERS TO COMPLETE THIS WORK INCLUDING STUDENTS, VOLUNTEERS, AND CONTRACTORS. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED WEED TREATMENT, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND RIVER TRAIL DEVELOPMENT AT THE ROCK CREEK CONFLUENCE PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MISSOULA COLLEGE, AND THE CONSERVATION CORPS. THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED SIMILAR ACTIVITIES ON OTHER PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT ITS SERVICE AREA. A CONSERVATION EASEMENT COMMITS THE ORGANIZATION TO A PERPETUAL RESPONSIBILITY OF STEWARDING THE PROTECTED CONSERVATION VALUES AND SUPPORTING LANDOWNERS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO MANAGE THEIR LAND WITH CONSERVATION IN MIND. STEWARDSHIP WORK INVOLVES MONITORING THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND VISITING WITH LANDOWNERS ANNUALLY TO LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS AND WORK TO HELP THEM MEET THEIR MANAGEMENT GOALS IN A WAY THAT ACHIEVES OPTIMAL PROTECTION FOR THEIR LAND. TO FUND THESE FUTURE RESPONSIBILITIES, THE ORGANIZATION HAS ESTABLISHED A STEWARDSHIP FUND WITH A BALANCE OF $1,483,698 AND $1,265,865 AT DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020, RESPECTIVELY, THAT IS PRESENTED WITHIN INVESTMENTS ON THE STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION. THE ORGANIZATION PRIDES ITSELF IN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH LANDOWNERS AND OTHER PARTNERS TO BRING RESOURCES AND SOUND SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX LAND MANAGEMENT ISSUES. IN 2021 AND 2020, THE ORGANIZATION MONITORED EACH OF ITS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.