mission & key programs
Teton Regional Land Trust’s mission is to conserve working farms and ranches, fish and wildlife habitat, and scenic open spaces in Eastern Idaho for this and future generations. In addition to land conservation, we also concentrate our efforts into stewardship projects, such as habitat restoration and ecological monitoring, and key programs like the Greater Yellowstone Sandhill Crane Initiative and Teton Basin Trumpeter Swan Project.
service area
We work in six Eastern Idaho counties: Bonneville, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, and Teton, as well as Teton County, Wyoming, west of the Teton Range.
unique in the central rocky mountains
Our service area borders both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and encompasses some of the most important migration corridors for wildlife moving to and from the parks to their winter ranges, as well as the winter ranges themselves. Our region includes the Upper Snake River watershed, boasting some of the most productive Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout spawning areas in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and world-class fisheries. Many vibrant farming and ranching communities thrive within our service area. Productive agriculture not only sustains our local economy but also helps maintain an open and permeable landscape for migrating wildlife.
Project Highlight
Teton Regional Land Trust recently celebrated its 100th conservation project in Teton County, Idaho with the protection of a 192-acre century farm at the mouth of Darby Canyon owned by the Bowles family. These 100 projects protect 12,835 acres of working farms and ranches, fish and wildlife habitat, and scenic open spaces. This conservation agreement brought the total number of acres protected in our service area to more than 40,000.
Boyd Bowles owned the land for nearly 40 years after acquiring it from his family. Mr. Bowles chose to place his farm into an agricultural conservation easement because it was important to him that the land remains well cared for. For many years, he leased the farm to Paris Penfold, a neighbor whose family has farmed in Teton Valley for generations as well. Mr. Bowles wanted to be certain this farm would continue to be used for agricultural production into the future. He plans to sell his farm to a local producer, which is only possible due to this conservation easement. After limiting the property’s development rights, Mr. Bowles will be able to sell the property at a price that is affordable to a local farmer, while still receiving what he needs to retire.
Read more about the story in the winter 2023/24 newsletter.
Photo in header courtesy of Teton Regional Land Trust.
