For the week of August 14 - 20, 2002

Sawtooth easement obtained in Obsidian

Nearly 7 acres of key 
roadside property protected

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area this week announced it has secured scenic protection for a key, roadside property.

The new protection is the result of a conservation easement purchased from Don and Nedra Sessions, owners of Sessions Lodge in Obsidian. The easement protects nearly seven acres at the Sessions Lodge site.

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area has obtained a scenic easement for the Sessions Lodge property in Obsidian. The easement is another piece in a large puzzle of protection for the 756,000-acre SNRA. Courtesy photo

"The land will remain in private ownership and on the tax roles in Custer County, but the American people in essence have purchased the conservation rights for this land," said SNRA Ranger Deb Cooper. "This easement will prevent any unsuitable development on this property, thereby insuring the preservation of the great views afforded visitors along Highway 75 as they travel through the Sawtooth Valley."

The $386,700 easement essentially limits the property use to what exists. Modest 25 percent to 40 percent expansions of the store and restaurant are allowed, said SNRA Lands Program Manager Craig Sheely.

The easement prevents large, commercial development like hotels, condominiums or trailer parks, Sheely said.

"We’re really excited about this," Sheely said. "We really appreciate the willingness of the Sessions to sell us this easement. These folks are wonderful role models when it comes to supporting the values of this great area."

Sheely added that the Sessions have worked from the SNRA’s early years to support the values the area was designated to uphold.

"Their property has always been immaculately kept up, colors blending with the landscape, trees planted to screen buildings and son on," he said. "We greatly appreciate them."

The purchase of the Sessions easement is the 87^th easement since the 756,000-acre SNRA was established in 1972. The law establishing the SNRA contained provisions for the federal government to control the use of the land in order to protect the esthetic values of the area.

The SNRA contains 20,322 acres of private land. Since 1972, conservation easements have been purchased on 18,985 acres of the private land.

There are approximately 10 more, highly visible properties that are priorities for easement purchases, Sheely said.

During the SNRA’s formative years, several large subdivisions were directly west of the Sessions’ property, between the highway and the Sawtooth Mountains.

"After the purchase of the fee title interest by the United States, this area has now been returned to a pastoral setting, forever protecting one of the more incredible views of the Sawtooth Mountains," Cooper said.

"The sessions’ easement further preserves the scenic integrity of the entire Obsidian area," she said.

 

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