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City of Missoula, Montana Item to be Referred to City Council Committee Committee: Conservation Item: Quebec Deschamps Creek Ranch – Purchase of Conservation Easement from Deschamps family with 2006 Open Space Bond funds Date: 9/9/10 Prepared by: Jackie Corday Initiated by: Parks Department Action Required: Set a public hearing for adoption of a Resolution that authorizes the City to contribute $175,000 towards the purchase of a conservation easement on the 1036 acres of Deschamps family property located NW of the WYE with 2006 Open Space Bond funds. Recommended Motion: THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO EXPEND $175,000 OF 2006 OPEN SPACE BOND MONEY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT THAT WILL BE HELD BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION ON 1036 ACRES OF THE DESCHAMPS FAMILY PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE QUEBEC DESCHAMPS CREEK RANCH. Timeline: Referral to committee: September 9, 2010 Committee discussion: September 15, 2010 Council acts to set hearing: September 20, 2010 Public Hearing: October 4, 2010 Background and Alternatives Explored: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has negotiated the purchase of a conservation easement for a total of $400,000 from the Deschamps family on 1036 acres of their Quebec Deschamps Creek Ranch located about 2.5 miles NW of the WYE adjacent to O'Keefe Creek Estates, using a combination of four funding sources: 1) $175,000 proposed from the 2006 Missoula County Open Space Bond city portion, 2) $175,000 proposed from the 2006 Missoula County Open Space Bond county portion, 3) $50,000 from a NW Energy grant, and 4) the Deschamps family donating approximately 50% of the conservation easement appraised value ($673,400) if the NW grant is not awarded (40% if it is awarded). Additionally, RMEF will have incurred $13,617 in costs to complete the easement (legal & staff time & office expenses). This equals about $169/acre for the City's contribution or $338/acre total of City and County shares from the 2006 Open Space bond. The property is located entirely within the boundaries of the Missoula Urban Area Open Space Plan and is located approximately 1/2 within the Missoula Planning Region and 1/2 within the Frenchtown Planning Region. ---PAGE BREAK--- This property has been owned by the Deschamps family since the late 1800's and has been used mostly for cattle grazing and timber harvesting. There are no structures on the property, just some gravel ranch roads. The property consists predominately of open grassy fields that range from pasture grasses to healthy native bunch grasses and forbs. The northern 1/3 of the property is forested predominately by Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir and is traversed by Quebec Deschamps Creek, a tributary to O'Keefe Creek. The ranchland is bordered to the south and east by residential properties averaging 10 acres in size, to the west by large acreage parcels, and to the north by USFS lands. The property is visible from the South Hills and a large majority of neighborhoods west of Reserve and out to the O'Keefe Creek Estates area NW of the WYE in addition to I-90 and Highway 93 North. In addition to the tremendous scenic viewshed value, the conservation easement will protect elk winter range for a herd of about 75-100, wildlife habitat and bird nesting and feeding habitat for numerous species, and 151 acres of soils of Local Importance. The property's open grasslands are especially important for two Species of Concern, the Swainson's Hawk and Grasshopper Sparrow. The Deschamps family has also agreed to provide public access for up to 4 natural history fieldtrips per year organized by Missoula Parks & Recreation as described in Attachment B. The ranch meets five out of the seven types of lands listed by the 2006 Open Space bond protecting the water quality of rivers, lakes and streams (Quebec Deschamps Creek); protecting wildlife habitat; conserving working ranches, farms and forests; providing open space and scenic landscapes; and managing for growth. The Open Space Advisory Committee met on August 12th and unanimously recommended approval of this project. Financial Implications: If approved by Council and the Commissioners, the $175,000 would be deducted from the City’s $5,000,000 share of the bond. The Deschamps family will continue to own and maintain the land. The City has no future financial or maintenance obligations for the land. Attachments: A. Map of the Conservation Easement B. Map Ownership Board Map Series C. Public Access Agreement D. Letters of recommendation 1. OSAC 2. USFS 3. Clark Fork Coalition 4. Five Valleys Land Trust E. Resolution authorizing bond expenditure