The drive up Ski Hill Road to Grand Targhee Resort is awe-inspiring with breathtaking Teton mountain views. Thanks to the generosity of Frank and Maryann Russo, 70 acres of that magnificent beauty is now protected, forever. In July of 2014, the Russos purchased half of a 140-acre ranch at the base of Teton Canyon in a local auction. The Russo family has since worked with the Teton Regional Land Trust to conserve the property with a conservation easement.

This newly-protected property lies adjacent to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and will stay largely undeveloped while remaining in the private ownership of the Russo family. Approximately one half mile of Mill Creek, a tributary of Teton Creek, flows through the property and nearly three quarters of a mile of the Pratt canal also flows through the property. These water -ways support mature riparian vegetation that provides habitat for trout, big game, large carnivores, raptors and songbirds.

“This conservation easement protects remarkable scenic views for folks traveling along the Ski Hill Road and the Forest Service road to Teton Canyon. Tamara Sperber, Interim Executive Director for the Land Trust said. The property’s views, agricultural character and wildlife will impress passersby, forever.”

The Russos very generously donated the conservation easement and gave up a portion of their development rights to protect this incredible piece of land. Frank Russo described their reasoning behind wanting to protect the property. “The Teton Valley is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I say this having lived on four continents and travelled to two others. Some places are as special but none more beautiful. Maryann and I have seen how unmanaged development can ruin natural beauty. Our hope is that others with similar experience and opportunity who live in and love Teton Valley will see the intrinsic value in protecting the natural beauty that surrounds those fortunate to come here”.

“The Russos had an extraordinary opportunity to purchase one of the most iconic properties in Teton Valley. By maintaining this property’s scenic views, they have really given a gift to our community,” said Renee Hiebert, Land Protection Specialist.

The Russos’ plans for the property include using the land primarily for agriculture as it is today. “We reserved a small portion of the 70 acres for a barn, yurt and a stone cottage. We specifically limited the size and height of these structures and sited them so that they blend in or are unseen from Ski Hill and Teton Canyon roads,” explained Frank Russo.

The Teton Regional Land Trust has worked with many willing landowners for the last 25 years to protect over 31,000 acres of land with conservation easements. A conservation easement is a legal agreement that allows for farming and ranching of properties as well as limited residential construction, but permanently restricts the amount and type of future development.

For more information about this conservation easement or the Teton Regional Land Trust please call 208-354-8939 or visit www.tetonlandtrust.org.

This article appeared in the Teton Valley News on January 15, 2015.