Found across the western United States, the sage grouse population has declined by 90 percent over the past century. In Wyoming, the population has decreased an estimated 70 percent in just the last 50 years.

With the population falling this dramatically, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has acknowledged it needs protection. But this bird is no small matter. Listing the sage grouse as a threatened or endangered species has big implications, especially in Wyoming where energy development—from gas to wind—is big business.

So what can be done?  The Fund has worked on several projects that ensure the protection of sage grouse habitat in the Green River Valley of Wyoming. With our partners, we completed the largest conservation easement in the region on more than 2,000 acres of a family-owned working ranch—known as the MJ Ranch—southeast of Boulder. We also led a group of partners in the protection of  more than 1,000 acres of critical sage grouse habitat on Cottonwood Ranches, a working cattle ranch southwest of Daniel, Wyoming. The ranch land contains some of the highest quality sage grouse habitat in the Green River Valley—in a single visit more than 250 sage grouse were observed on the property.

The sage grouse is definitely an interesting looking bird and, like the prairie chicken, has an interesting way of attracting mates.

Watch the sage grouse strut!

Video and text (bottom) courtesy of Gail Patricelli, UC Davis

Would you like to help us protect land for wildlife like the sage grouse? Make a donation today.

From the striking mesas of the Colorado River Plateau to the banks of the Kern River, nearly 120,000 acres of Utah’s unparalleled wildlife habitat, recreation areas and scenic vistas are now protected thanks to the work of the Fund and its conservation partners.

Kern River

Desert tortoises were once one of the West’s most abundant reptiles, but their populations have declined 90 percent since the 1980s. In 2005 the Fund completed a three-year effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Kern River Gas Transmission Company to protect nearly 600 acres of prime tortoise habitat. The project helped Kern River Gas to mitigate its construction of a natural gas pipeline through Utah.

Spring Creek Wilderness Study Area

Nearly 1,000 acres of significant wildlife habitat just a mile north of Zion National Park and adjacent to the Spring Creek Wilderness Study Area were protected through a land exchange negotiated by the Fund in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. Boasting Mexican spotted owl and northern goshawk, the property will be transferred to the Bureau. As a result of the exchange, about 750 acres of public land near Cedar City will become available for future development.

Topaz Relocation Center

As part of the Japanese American Internment Camp Preservation Initiative, we protected 13 acres at the Topaz Relocation Center for the Topaz Museum in Provo. The preservation of this property, the largest unprotected piece of the former camp, will serve as a lasting and poignant reminder of this dark moment in history.

Virgin River

Along its route from above Zion National Park to Lake Mead, the Virgin River flows for 154 miles through narrow canyons and sandy expanses. In concert with the Bureau of Land Management, Virgin River Land Preservation Association and Washington County, the Fund acquired 200 acres along the river that provides habitat for wildlife such as the bobcat.

Zion National Park

For more than 28 years, Dallen and Karen Spendlove and their four children have been excellent stewards for a slice of extraordinary landscape on the Colorado River Plateau, their 2,400-acre ranch in southern Utah. Nestled on Smith Mesa adjacent to Zion National Park, this working ranch offers unparalleled views of the park's renowned Kolob Peak and the spectacular natural rock formations of Kolob Finger canyons.

The Spendloves have a strong commitment to both conservation and their land, but like many ranchers of modest means, they do not have the resources to place a conservation easement on their property. And like many other landowners in rapidly growing areas of the West, they are under tremendous pressure to sell for development.

The Spendloves needed help, and, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, The Conservation Fund was able to assist the family in preserving both a working landscape and open space in Washington County. The Fund purchased a conservation easement from the Spendloves, thus protecting the ranch in perpetuity - to the benefit of the owners, the local community and the public as a whole. The Spendloves' traditional ranching values are now secure, and the remarkable view into Zion National Park remains unimpaired. This successful story stems from a strong partnership between the Spendloves, the anonymous donor, the Fund, the Virgin River Land Preservation Association and Washington County officials.

Banner image by Chazz Layne/Flickr

Home to one of the nation’s most popular national parks and some of the best fishing in the Western United States, Wyoming’s status as a top recreation destination is on the rise. With a record of more than 110,000 acres protected across the state, the Fund and its partners are ensuring that the state’s magnificent natural areas and the wildlife populations they support will continue to thrive for future generations of visitors to enjoy.

Working closely with private landowners, public agencies and local conservation groups, the Fund has protected nearly 200,000 acres of wildlife habitat, working ranchland and historic sites in Montana.

Ongoing Projects

Rocky Mountain Front Initiative

In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the state of Montana, we launched an unprecedented 5-year effort to protect 220,000 acres of wildlife habitat along the Rocky Mountain Front while maintaining the region’s traditional ranching heritage. In its first year, four projects protected 21,274 acres of critical migratory corridors for grizzly bears and a other species that depend on the Front’s rich ecosystem.

Click here to learn more about the projects or view a photo gallery of the Front here.

Recent Projects

Meeteetse Spires in the Beartooth Mountains

In early 2010 we completed the second and final phase of a land conservation project that adds 560 acres to the Meeteetse Spires Area of Critical Environmental Concern in the Beartooth Mountains.

This project is a great example of how we partner and assist government agencies in their conservation goals. The Fund bought the entire property in June 2009 with the intent that the BLM would purchase it in phases, as it obtained funding.  Senator Max Baucus, Senator Jon Tester and Congressman Denny Rehberg championed this project in Congress and secured all of the funding for BLM’s purchase, through two annual appropriations from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

“The public and environmental benefit from this purchase is immeasurable," said Jim Sparks, Billings field manager for the Bureau of Land Management.

The property sits about six miles south of Red Lodge in Carbon County and contains unique rock formations that jut out from the eastern slopes of the Beartooth Mountains, drawing visitors and nature photographers from across the state and country. Preserving this land expands public recreational access for hiking, hunting, camping, skiing and more, because it connects to surrounding BLM lands and the adjoining Custer National Forest.

This dramatic landscape also provides a home for a variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose, mountain lions and gray wolves, and a rare flowering plant, the Shoshonea pulvinata, which exists in only three places in Montana and fewer than 12 locations globally.

“Montanans benefit from investments like this because we value clean water and public access to good places for fishing, hunting and camping,” said Senator Tester.  “This will go a long ways toward making sure this area will be enjoyed by all of us, our kids and our grandkids.”

Flathead River

In September 2009, we facilitated the purchase of 244 acres along the main stem of the Flathead River, just north of Flathead Lake, preserving nearly two miles of high quality, intact cottonwood/riparian riverbank habitat important for federally-protected bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. Combined with adjacent protected lands, this property helps maintain the integrity of this portion of the Flathead River and benefits other wildlife such as migratory birds, pheasants, bald eagles, osprey, black bears and whitetail deer.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) purchased this land from the Ingham family, who wanted to see their property protected. The Flathead Land Trust was instrumental in getting the deal started by working with the Ingham family. Funding for the purchase came from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) as part of its contribution to the Hungry Horse Dam Mitigation Program. The agency dedicates a large share of revenues from regional ratepayers to compensate for the loss of fish habitat and other impacts caused by the construction and operation of Hungry Horse Dam.

Click here to learn more >>

Past Projects

Circle R Ranch

Scenic ranches along the West’s great rivers rarely come onto the market—and even more rarely become publicly owned. The Circle R Ranch, rimmed by five miles of the Yellowstone River, is a magnificent exception. We partnered with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to protect the 4,028-acre ranch in 2008. A short drive from Billings, the property is now among Montana’s newest state parks and wildlife areas, beckoning hikers, anglers and campers.

Click here for a photo gallery of images from the Ranch.

Bear Paw Battlefield

As part of its commitment to preserving America’s cultural heritage, the Fund is working to protect historic sites across the nation. Supported by the state of Montana, we worked with the National Park Service to preserve 200 acres for inclusion in the Bear Paw Battlefield, part of Nez Perce National Historical Park and Nez Perce National Historic Trail. The hallowed ground marks the site of the last battle of the Nez Perce War of 1877.

Bull River

The Bull River flows 18 miles from the southwestern slopes of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area to its confluence with the Clark Fork River, just east of the small community of Noxon. The watershed and the Bull Lake headwaters are home to many wildlife and fish species, including moose, bighorn sheep, lynx, bald eagle and the threatened bull trout.

Through a cooperative venure including Avista Corporation, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Plum Creek Timber Company and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, we facilitated the protection of 1,800 acres in western Montana's Bull River watershed, conserving habitat for wildlife, including neotropical songbirds, endangered grizzly bear and threatened bull trout. The partners are developing a management plan to ensure habitat protection and recreational opportunities for years to come.

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge

The Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge spans more than a million acres as it winds along 125 miles of the Missouri River. At the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and with support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Fund joined with the American Prairie Foundation, Bureau of Land Management and state of Montana to conserve more than 50,000 acres for the refuge. The agreement included the purchase of 26,000 acres of grazing permits to protect sensitive wildlife habitat that hosts sage grouse, mule deer and elk.

Elkhorn Mountains

In July 2007, we completed a five-year effort to preserve the Iron Mask ranch, a 5,548-acre property that flanks the eastern side of the Elkhorn Mountains. This conservation success was possible because of key partnerships—in particular, we worked closely with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to ensure the property would remain intact for wildlife. Now elk, big horn sheep and other wildlife as well as outdoor enthusiasts have new room to roam in Montana’s Elkhorn mountains.
Click here to read more about this project.

McMaster Ranch

Overlooking the Missouri River Valley, the 5,600-acre McMaster Ranch teems with antelope, bighorn sheep and elk. The Fund purchased the ranch on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management to help shield the Missouri River and nearby Elkhorn Mountains from encroaching development. A portion of the ranch will serve as a “grass bank” where other ranchers can graze cattle while their own land is restored. As part of the conservation agreement, third-generation ranchers Jim and Dolly McMaster will retain a life estate on the property.

Stuart Mill Bay

Stuart Mill Bay, with its magnificent mountain backdrops, is among the last remaining undeveloped tracts near popular Georgetown Lake. Thanks to a partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the state's Natural Resource Damage Program, and support from Dennis and Phyllis Washington, in 2003 the Fund transferred 363 acres in the Clark Fork River watershed to the state of Montana, giving permanent refuge to elk, moose and rainbow trout.

Travelers' Rest

As a legacy to the nation and in honor of the extraordinary journey of Lewis and Clark, The Conservation Fund and its partners are working to protect historically significant natural areas associated with the legendary expedition. In 2001, the Fund assisted the Richard King Mellon Foundation in preserving more than 15 acres of the historic campsite known as Travelers' Rest. American Indians used this place—located near the town of Lolo—for centuries, and Lewis and Clark rested here before their passage across the Rockies and again on their return journey.

The sweeping open spaces and striking mountain landscapes of Colorado are a haven for wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The Fund and its partners have already protected nearly 190,000 acres here, including more than 33,000 acres of breathtaking vistas and wildlife habitat along Colorado’s I-25 corridor.

Ben Delatour Scout Ranch

In 2011, we worked with the Longs Peak Council (LPC) of the Boy Scouts of America to permanently protect the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch, a 3,201-acre property, located 40 miles northwest of Fort Collins in Colorado. The land preservation agreement between LPC and Colorado State Forest Service forever protects the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch from the threat of development. Negotiated by the Fund in Boulder, the sale of the conservation easement allows the LPC to continue its valuable programs for youth and forestry professionals and maintain its proactive forestry management practices. Established in 1958, the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch is used by boys and girls organizations for a wide variety of programs designed to develop respect for the natural environment and leadership and survival skills that children will carry with them into adulthood. The Ranch serves as a training site for fire fighters and emergency responders from across the state as well as an outdoor classroom for forestry students at Colorado universities. Read the press release >>

Snow Mountain Ranch

Each year, YMCA of the Rockies’ spectacular Snow Mountain Ranch reconnects thousands of kids with nature through environmental education programs and other outdoor activities. With the Colorado State Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service and Great Outdoors Colorado, we placed a conservation easement on 2,800 acres at the ranch. The easement safeguards habitat for a variety of wildlife species, including the federally-threatened and state-endangered Canada lynx and the state-sensitive Northern goshawk. The protected land also establishes the foundation for the next generation of healthy forests in an area devastated by beetle damage, while maintaining the water quality of Pole Creek, a source of water for Snow Mountain Ranch, the town of Granby and the region. Preserving this land allows Snow Mountain Ranch to continue its long-standing tradition of providing year-round access to more than 50 miles of world-class hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding and biking trails.

Canyon of the Ancients

In November 2009, we helped protect one of the Bureau of Land Management's top priorities by adding 4,573 acres to the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The property accounts for about 25 percent of the private lands inside the monument and contains 25 documented sites of cultural importance, including Jackson’s Castle (photographed by Willian Henry Jackson in 1874) and the Skywatcher Site, a 1,000-year old Ancestral Puebloan solstice marker. In addition, the monument contains possibly the highest density of cultural resource sites in the nation, with an estimated 700 undocumented sites.

Catspaw Ranch and the Navajo River Watershed

Over the past eight years, we and our partners have protected nearly 30,000 acres within the Navajo River watershed through conservation easements on privately owned ranches. In 2008, we made significant gains, protecting 8,690 acres on the Catspaw Ranch, including the entire East Fork of the Navajo River, thanks to significant funding from the federal Forest Legacy Program. Our efforts continue, as we seek to conserve an additional 40,000 acres in this watershed.

Click here to learn more about this project.

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is home to the historic cliff dwellings and other archaeological treasures left by the Ancestral Puebloans who once built a community inside this stark canyon. With bipartisan support from Colorado's congressional delegation, in 2007 we assisted the National Park Service in adding 324 acres to the park, ensuring that visitors to Mesa Verde will enter the park through preserved and scenic land.

The cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo: Alex E. Promios/Flickr

Antelope Creek

In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, we acquired the 1,772-acre Antelope Creek natural area to protect habitat for the imperiled Gunnison sage grouse. We transferred the land to the Bureau for inclusion in the agency’s Gunnison Basin Critical Wildlife Area. A 2.5-mile stretch of Antelope Creek runs through the property, forming important riparian areas for sage grouse and other wildlife.

Bair Family Ranch

The Conservation Fund is committed to working with ranching families to protect the rugged expanses that support rural economies, protect wildlife habitat, and preserve a uniquely American way of life.

Like many ranchers across the West, Craig Bair and his brother LeGrande were at a crossroads. Seeking relief from drought and soaring property taxes, the family debated for years whether to sell their historic sheep ranch to developers. The land was valued at more than $20 million.

Click here to learn why the Bair family chose to stay and how we were able to protect their ranchland as working land, recreational space, and a wild haven.

The Pinnacles

Dramatic rock formations called the Pinnacles define a 1,480-acre inholding that, back in 2003, we protected in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and Gunnison County, and with tremendous support from the National Park Service. Situated above the Blue Mesa Reservoir and adjoining the Gunnison National Forest, the lands provide a scenic backdrop for the Curecanti National Recreation Area, home to bighorn sheep, elk and Gunnison sage grouse.

Blue Mountain Conservation Area

The Blue Mountain Conservation Area, flanking the Front Range in the north-central part of the state, is home to elk, mountain lion and black bear. Culminating a six-year effort to protect open space and wildlife habitat here, the Fund collaborated with Larimer County and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District to acquire 3,400 acres from Hewlett Packard Company. With assistance from the Great Outdoors Colorado program, the county will manage a portion of the property known as Chimney Hollow for outdoor recreation. The remainder will serve as a much-needed water reservoir in one of the state's fastest growing regions.

Capitol Creek Ranch

Capitol Creek Ranch, just outside Aspen, is nestled in the shadow of Capitol Peak and Maroon Bells/Snowmass wilderness areas. Joining forces with the Aspen Valley Land Trust and the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, the Fund conserved a 1,585-acre working ranch, which allows the landowners to continue their ranching traditions while permanently protecting the property's important wildlife habitat and scenic values.

Working in cooperation with local land trusts, we have helped to safeguard Idaho’s working landscapes and popular recreation destinations, including more than 32,250 acres within the Greater Yellowstone ecoregion and more than 20,000 acres in the Upper Snake River area. In total, we have helped protect nearly 135,000 acres across the state.

Ongoing Initiatives

Snake River

An area known for its world class fishing and other great recreational opportunities, the Snake River attracts thousands of tourists from around the world each year.  But the beauty of this area also brings the desire for development, which threatens the pristine, untouched wilderness and the most productive agricultural lands in eastern Idaho.  For nearly 20 years we've worked to conserve lands along the Snake River and have succeeded in permanently protecting more than 20,000 from development. 

Learn more about our conservation successes in the region and our continuing efforts to protect this cherished American landscape.

Minidoka National Historic Site

Tens of thousands of Japanese Americans were forced to spend the World War II years in isolated internment camps out West. As part of our Japanese American Internment Camp Preservation Initiative, we are working to preserve one of these camps, south-central Idaho’s Minidoka National Historic Site, adding more than 350 acres to date. Marking a painful chapter in U.S. history, Minidoka attracts many visitors every year. Protecting America's historic lands is an important part of our conservation work.

Past Projects

City of Rocks National Reserve

The striking landscape of City of Rocks attracts rock climbers from around the world. The Castle Rock Ranch became the newest addition to this National Reserve thanks to a complex land exchange involving the National Park Service, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Fund. The 1,240-acre ranch will now be open to climbers, hikers and horseback riders who visit the reserve and the adjacent Sawtooth National Forest.

Read about more conservation in City of Rocks >>