BLM Protects 80 acres along the Henry's Fork
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IDAHO FALLS, ID – Approximately 80 acres of land near St. Anthony in Fremont County is now protected in perpetuity thanks to willing landowners, the Teton Regional Land Trust and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). On July 29, 2016, the BLM acquired a conservation easement on 65 acres and fee title to 15 acres of property located on the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River.
The property is important as it contains Henry’s Fork river frontage and wetlands. The wetland vegetation provides habitat to a number of wildlife species that are designated “species of greatest conservation need” by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, including the Sandhill Crane, Trumpeter Swan and the White-faced Ibis. Protection of this landscape ensures connectivity for wildlife moving along the river corridor. The private landowners worked with the BLM and the Teton Regional Land Trust for several years to make this protection possible. Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars were used to make the purchase.
Conserving the property meets BLM’s management goals of maintaining open space and scenic vistas, and protecting crucial wildlife habitat. The area also supports a variety of vegetative communities. “We have a unique ecosystem on these 80 acres, ranging from cottonwood and other wetland vegetation to sagebrush steppe and pasture fields,” said Jeremy Casterson, Upper Snake Field Manager. “Protecting these acres provides open space and an uninterrupted scenic view as people boat, fish and play along the Henry’s Fork.”
The property lies within the BLM’s Snake River Area of Critical Environmental Concern, about five miles southwest of St. Anthony. The property is divided into two parcels, with the northern parcel being acquired in fee title and a conservation easement placed on the southern parcel.
For more information on the project contact Monica Zimmerman, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Upper Snake Field Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.