For the week of Sept 25 - Oct 1, 2002

Easement obtained for Salmon corridor property

$31,000 protects 10 acres from subdivision and development

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Ten acres of land adjacent to state Highway 75 along the Salmon River will be protected from development under a conservation easement purchased by the U.S. Forest Service last week.

This Salmon River corridor property 25 miles downstream from Stanley, owned by Sandra Turner, will be protected from development by a conservation easement purchased last week by the U.S. Forest Service. Courtesy photo

The easement is for property located 25 miles down river from Stanley and owned by Sandra Turner. Negotiations culminated Sept. 16, when taxpayers, through the Forest Service, paid $31,000 for development rights to the property.

"Mrs. Turner’s property is located adjacent to Highway 75 where Thompson Creek enters into the Salmon River," SNRA Lands Program Manager Craig Sheely said. "By acquiring this easement, the American people have obtained the conservation rights for this land. The land will remain in private ownership, and on the Custer County tax roles. However, unsuitable development on the property has been prevented."

Sheely said pressure on landowners in the Salmon River corridor to develop appears to be rising.

"Mrs. Turner’s property is one of the first pieces of private land that people see as they enter the SNRA from the east," Sheely said. "While this 10-acre easement is not very large, it is very important to us."

The value of the $31,000 easement was determined through an appraisal conducted through a private appraiser and then reviewed by Forest Service appraisers. The appraisal process takes into consideration the price of the "highest and best use" of the land without an easement versus the value of the land with an easement prohibiting construction. The landowner is paid the difference.

The Turner Conservation Easement is the 88^th easement purchased in the 756,000-acre SNRA since 1974.

There are 20,322 acres of privately owned land within the boundaries of the SNRA. Conservation easements have been acquired on 18,995 of those acres, and the Forest Service is continuing to work with willing sellers to obtain easements on the remaining parcels of private land.

Sheely expressed appreciation for Turner’s willingness to work with the Forest Service throughout the easement acquisition process.

He also thanked Idaho’s Congressional Delegation, for help attracting federal dollars for the purchase of easements, and the Sawtooth Society, a private, non-profit group that has helped work with congress and private landowners to achieve preservation of the SNRA’s renowned scenic qualities.

 

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