This project supports the long-term monitoring of permanent conservation easements held by BLM in the south fork upper snake area of critical environmental concern (acec) and the sands desert…

This project supports the long-term monitoring of permanent conservation easements held by BLM in the south fork upper snake area of critical environmental concern (acec) and the sands desert habitat management area (HMA) and teton river lwcf project area and the development of baseline documentation reports for new lwcf-supported BLM conservation easements. Teton regional land trust will conduct conservation easement monitoring and stewardship for BLM-held conservation easements and complete baseline documentation reports for new land and water conservation fund conservation easement projects within the project area.teton regional land trust (trlt) will schedule on-site property visits with landowners, prepare maps and review the conservation easement prior to the visit, conduct property visits, document site visits, and complete recordkeeping. If in-person property visits are not feasible or necessary, monitoring may be conducted using high resolution satellite imagery. During the site visit, any natural and human-made changes on the property will be documented along with direct observations of wildlife and signs of wildlife use on the property. Trlt staff will complete baseline documentation reports prior to the closing of lwcf-supported conservation easements. Baseline reports are required for all lwcf conservation easements. Trlt will conduct field work, develop property maps, write the report, provide the draft report to the landowners and BLM for review, finalize the report, and provide printed copies of the report to the landowners and BLM. The project will accomplish blms required annual monitoring of conservation easements. Trlt will provide the BLM with conservation easement stewardship reports, landowner letters, and annual progress reports annually by year end. The project will also support new lwcf conservation easement projects through the completion of baseline documentation reports, which will be printed and provided to BLM prior to at closing of the conservation easements. The public that recreates within the project area will benefit from the permanent protection and stewardship of wildlife resources open space and scenic views provided by the permanent conservation easements. BLM benefits from the additional support capacity for monitoring conservation easements, addressing landowner questions concerns, and the completion of baseline documentation reports. This project adds capacity that reduces BLM field office staff time needed to monitor conservation easements and to manage contracts for completion of baseline documentation reports.