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This year marks Summit Land Conservancy’s 20th Anniversary as Park City’s local land trust–- 20 years of saving the landscapes that are the heart of our community. The first 20 years of forever…
To honor the places we have protected, we will highlight and share some of the stories about these precious lands and how the Conservancy has grown over the years.
Judd Ranch, is a 34-acre property with important agricultural lands, significant wildlife habitat, valuable wetland areas, and public fishing access, located on the Weber River in the small town of Wanship. The property's open space and scenic character can be seen from Interstate 80 and South Hoytsville Road.
“I received a call in October 2010 from Grant MacFarland. Grant, an attorney based in Coalville, also served on Summit County’s Eastern Summit County Agricultural Committee (ESAP). He had been working with Donald and Louise Judd to get an easement placed on the Judd’s 34 acre farm along the Weber in Hoytsville.
The Summit Land Conservancy agreed to move forward to help the Judds. At this time, Congress had extended the enhanced tax incentive, but it was due to expire at the end of 2011. The Judds had agreed to reduce the purchase price of their easement by 40%, in order to receive the highest priority for ESAP funding, and we thought that such generosity should be rewarded by the highest tax benefit possible. We got to work quickly.
We submitted an application to the FRPP - Farm and Ranch Preservation Program (a precursor to the ALE - Agricultural Land Easement program we use now). We also received funding again from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for angler access, ESAP, and Utah Division of Water Quality. The Judd property contains a rare perennial spring, which the Army Corps of Engineers wanted to preserve with mitigation funding. The Army Corps also agreed to pay for fencing this portion of the easement property. The George S. and Delores Doré Eccles Foundation again gave us a "Last Dollar" grant for the project. We raised the necessary funds in time to close on December 21, 2011.
Afterward, a number of people, including Grant MacFarland told us he didn’t think we could do it. I’m always glad that no one told us that while we were busy doing it.
I’m particularly proud of our efforts on this project because while we were raising all the money for the Judd project, negotiating the easements (including an access easement with the DWR) and doing the baseline study, we were also in the throes of our $1 million Osguthorpe campaign in Park City. All this with a staff of one full-time and two part-time people.”
Learn more about the Conservancy’s work and how you can save the lands and waters you cherish at www.wesaveland.org.
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