Land trust completes Mill Creek land protection

Posted: Jan 14, 2010 04:24 PM

Nearly 500 acres conserved for fish, wildlife habitat

From KTVZ.COM news sources

The Deschutes Land Trust announced Thursday that it has permanently protected 492 acres of ranchland on Mill Creek east of Prineville.

The Land Trust worked with Jim Bauersfeld, owner of Coffer Ranch, to create a land protection agreement that permanently protects the important wildlife habitat at the ranch while continuing Bauersfeld's private ownership.

The conserved area includes one mile of Mill Creek, springs and wetlands, and unique rock formations. The ranch is home to a host of wildlife species including redband trout, rocky mountain elk, Columbia spotted frog, golden eagles, mountain quail, and numerous songbirds.

Jim Bauersfeld has worked since the mid-1990's to restore the private land portions of Mill Creek. His restoration successes have inspired other nearby landowners to initiate their own stream restoration projects.

"Conserving one of the largest ranches on Mill Creek not only protects important wildlife habitat, but also secures the restoration investments Jim Bauersfeld and others have made in Mill Creek" said Brad Nye, the Land Trust's conservation director.

Land preservation agreements restrict real estate development, and other intensive uses to a mutually agreed-upon level. The property remains the private property of the landowner and in most cases not open to the public.

In the case of Coffer Ranch, the land preservation agreement will permanently protect streams, wetlands, and other natural resources while providing for continued ranching and farming. Funding for this conservation project comes from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the James H. Stanard Foundation.

The Deschutes Land Trust conserves land for wildlife, scenic views, and local communities. A nationally accredited organization, the Land Trust has protected more than 7,700 acres in Central Oregon since 1995. For more on information on Deschutes Land Trust, contact (541) 330-0017 or visit www.deschuteslandtrust.org.