December 29, 2002

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The Associated Press

http://www.aberdeennews.com

Omaha, Nebraska - A global conservation organization has quietly bought conservation easements along the Niobrara River in north-central Nebraska that will prevent development on about 6,200 acres of land.

The easements bought by The Nature Conservancy, a worldwide organization dedicated to preserving unique ecosystems, involve about 12 miles of riverfront on the north side of the Niobrara south of Norden, near the South Dakota border.

The purchase of conservation easements are different from outright ownership of the land. Under the easements, The Nature Conservancy pays a landowner to preserve the land in its current state and give up any unsightly development, such as building intrusive or brightly colored cabins on a canyon overlook.

In effect, the conservancy buys the development rights to the land by paying the difference between the land's worth for ranching and its worth for vacation homes and resorts. Land that normally sells for $200 to $350 an acre is selling for 10 times that for vacation cabins.

Vince Shay, the conservancy's state director, said the goal of the easements is to keep development out of river lands.

"The goal for the property is to maintain the current condition," Shay said. "We'd like to keep things the way they are."

As for the low-key nature of the easement acquisitions, Shay said, his organization is not trying to keep the purchase of the easements quiet.

The conservancy is simply more interested in its goals than in publicity.

"The Nature Conservancy is an organization that tries to work with people and not against people. We're results-oriented," he said.

The Niobrara Council, which recently voted to donate $40,000 toward the conservancy's recent conservation easement, is negotiating three or four smaller conservation easements of its own.

The conservancy has identified another 15,000 acres in the 76-mile-long scenic stretch of the Niobrara Valley where it hopes to obtain conservation easements. The conservancy already owns about 50,000 acres, and 30 miles of river frontage, on the south side of the river.

The most recent agreement involves about 3,100 acres of land owned by the descendants of Franklin Egelhoff.

That property lies just downstream of Rocky Ford, the rapids where most canoe trips end on the heavily floated Niobrara River east of Valentine.

The conservancy does allow some development.

A canoe outfitting business, Rock Barn Outfitters operated by one of Egelhoff's sons, was allowed to continue in business on the Egelhoff property and a daughter was allowed to build a retirement home on already existing farmstead.

ON THE NET

Niobrara Council: http://www.niobraracouncil.org/

The Nature Conservancy: http://nature.org/?sourceoverture_nature_conservancy 

Excerpt from http://niobraracouncil.org/minutes/101702M.html

MINUTES

Niobrara Council - Niobrara National Scenic River

Monthly Meeting October 17, 2002

... 1. Call to Order. Chair Arrowsmith called the Niobrara Council meeting to order at 1:34 p.m. Meeting was held at the Brown County Courthouse located at 148 W 4th Street, Ainsworth, Nebraska, 69210.

Present: Brad Arrowsmith, Monte Frauen, Tom Higgins, Nola Moosman, Bill Mulligan, John Ravenscroft, Dave Sands, Dwight Sawle, Jim Schoenberg, Carl Simmons, Larry Voecks.

Absent: Jason Appelt, Paul Hedren, Betty Hermsmeyer, Royce Huber, Lance Kuck.

Staff Present: Rodney Verhoeff, Kalli Kieborz.

Audience: Twyla Graham, Roy Breuklander, Mike Behrens, Ed Heinert, Stuart Schneider, Carmen Blausey, Sandy Benson, Getha Leonard, KR Leonard, Mary Mercure, Lee Simmons.

Excused Absence: Jason Appelt, Paul Hedren, Betty Hermsmeyer, Royce Huber, Lance Kuck.

... 4. Recommendation on TNC/Egelhoff Easement Project Proposal – Funding Contribution. The information on this project was handed out at the September meeting. It is the proposal that the council would contribute their $50,000 from the councils’ environmental trust fund grant to the Egelhoff easement project that the TNC is currently fundraising for. Verhoeff prepared an outline of the pros/cons for the project for both the TNC and the Niobrara Council. TNC would in turn be willing to fundraise back $50,000 to contribute towards a council easement project of their choice.

Mike Behrens stated that if the council chooses a conservation easement project within their priority area, TNC might be willing to contribute additional funds to the $50,000.

Moosman said the council needs to think in terms of the long-term big picture.

There are only so many acres available along the river valley corridor. Conservation easements are one way to protect the valley from development.

Sands stated that easements also help to protect the existing ranching and agricultural aspects.

Frauen mentioned that the current recreational opportunities can also be preserved.

Arrowsmith stated that there was some discussion that when the council decides to start on easement program, they want the first easement to be an original of theirs and also be able to fund it individually.

It is also a fact that the money available through the environmental trust has already been extended for an easement project.

Simmons made a motion that the council commit the $46,000 available through the environmental trust fund grant to the Nature Conservancy’s Egelhoff Easement Project if no significant progress is made on any of the other pending easements projects by the December 19, 2002, Niobrara Council meeting.

Sands seconded.

Mulligan stated that he doubts any progress will be able to be made on the Marty Young project by the December meeting. He understands the point of this motion in that it might encourage others to move ahead more quickly.

Frauen stated there might be available funds in another part of the budget to move ahead on the Marty Young project for the bank restoration.

Voecks doesn’t think that sixty days is long enough to get anything done on any of the other projects.

Roll Call Vote: 8 Ayes – Schoenberg, Simmons, Voecks, Arrowsmith, Moosman, Mulligan, Sands, Sawle. 2 Nays – Higgins, Ravenscroft. 1 Abstain – Frauen. 5 Not Present – Appelt, Hedren, Hermsmeyer, Huber, Kuck. Motion carried 8 ayes to 2 nays.

14. Public Comment (continued).

Lee Simmons requested that he be privy to what was discussed in the executive session. He doesn’t feel he was treated fair[ly] stating that if some of the public has to leave, then all of the public should have to leave.

Arrowsmith stated there are no recorded tapes, minutes, or note taking of any kind during an executive session and discussion is limited strictly to the topic at hand.

Higgins stated that individuals from the public can be asked to join the executive session, if the board desires.