Utah Lake (Robins Conservation Easement)
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Project ID: 6400
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2021
Submitted By:
1242
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Project Manager: Kara Butterfield
PM Agency: The Nature Conservancy
PM Office: Utah Field Office
Lead: The Nature Conservancy
WRI Region: Central
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Description:
The Nature Conservancy will acquire a conservation easement over the approximately 30.84-acre Utah Lake (Robins) tract, located in Utah County, Utah, from the owners, M. Moreno Robins. Immediately upon acquisition, TNC will assign the conservation easement to the UT Department of Agriculture and Food. Acquisition of this conservation easement will help conserve local agricultural land, maintain habitat for nesting and migratory birds, and maintain open space and views from existing public trails
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Location:
The Robins property is located on the eastern shore of Utah Lake, approximately 8 miles west of Prove City, in Utah County, UT, and immediately north of the Utah State Park.
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Project Need
Need For Project:
The Robins property consists of approximately 30.84 acres of ranchland bordering Utah Lake. The property serves as critical upland habitat for migratory birds, a water quality buffer to Utah Lake, and is also pasture for grazing -- serving multiple purposes. This parcel is one of the last pieces of undeveloped property between Utah Lake and fast approaching residential developments. This property sits adjacent to protected land that currently runs for more than 4 miles along the Utah Lake shoreline. This protected area currently encompasses the State of Utah's Powell Slough Waterfowl Management Area (700 acres), the Taylor Family Easement (held by The Nature Conservancy of 108 acres), the Provo River Delta Restoration Project (287 acres), and the Utah Lake State Park.
Objectives:
Protecting this property and adding it to the existing conserved lands in the area is expected to provide multiple benefits including:
- preserving viable agriculture (i.e., allowing grazing to continue in this unincorporated part of Utah County);
- preserving wildlife and migratory bird habitat;
- providing buffer land for Utah Lake which helps protect water quality;
- protecting open space and enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Relation To Management Plan:
The conservation easement will ensure the lands stay in their current use, a ranching operation, grazing cattle, horses, and growing alfalfa for feed. Management of the property will continue as is, and in compliance with the conservation easement permitted and prohibited uses.
Fire / Fuels:
Water Quality/Quantity:
Compliance:
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food will conduct annual site visits to make sure the terms and conditions of the conservation easement are being followed.
Methods:
The ranching operation will continue. The main activities include maintaining fences, moving cattle and horses between pasturing areas, and cutting alfalfa for feed for the animals.
Monitoring:
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food will conduct annual site visits to make sure the terms and conditions of the conservation easement are being followed.
Partners:
The Utah Department and Agriculture and Food will be the holder of the conservation easement, The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources and several private individuals are providing financial support. Provo City, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program, The Utah Lake Commission, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, and the Utah Sovereign Lands Program are supportive of the project and have written letters of support.
Future Management:
Future property management will be the responsibility of the landowner.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $809,500.00 | $0.00 | $809,500.00 | $0.00 | $809,500.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
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| Other | Property Appraisal and other costs. These expenses include: the cost of the appraisal ($6,750), Phase I Environmental Hazards Assessment ($4,500), Easement Documentation Report ($250), and Survey ($1,000) - $12,500 total | $12,500.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2021 |
| Other | Purchase of Conservation Easement. The ESMF funds will be used towards the purchase price of the conservation easement. | $797,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2021 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $809,500.00 | $0.00 | $809,500.00 | $0.00 | $809,500.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
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| Species Protection Account | Funds in the amount of $10,000 from the Utah Division of Natural Resources Endangered Species Mitigation Fund (ESMF). TNC will provide private funds to cover the remainder of the project costs | $10,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2021 | |
| State(Other) | 1 | Funds in the amount of $75,000 from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. | $75,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2021 |
| State(Other) | 1 | The State of Utah, Quality Growth Commission’s LeRay McAllister Critical Land Conservation Program (LeRay McAllister Fund) is contributing $300,000 towards acquisition of the conservation easement. | $300,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2021 |
| Applicant | 1 | Private funds in the amount of $424,500 are being provided by The Nature Conservancy. Of the total $424,500, private mitigation funds in the amount of $228,884, received by TNC, are being applied to this project. | $424,500.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2021 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
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| American White Pelican | N4 | |||||
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| Bald Eagle | N5 | |||||
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| June Sucker | N1 | |||||
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| June Sucker | N1 | |||||
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| Olive-sided Flycatcher | N4 | |||||
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| Waterfowl | ||||||
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| Cinnamon Teal | 1 | |||||
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| Gadwall | 1 | |||||
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| Mallard | 1 | |||||
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| Other Ducks | 3 | |||||
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| Other Geese | 3 | |||||
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Habitats
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Project Comments
Completion
Start Date:
01/01/2019
End Date:
12/18/2020
FY Implemented:
2021
Final Methods:
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will acquire a conservation easement over the approximately 31-acre Utah Lake (Robins) tract (the Property), located in Utah County, Utah, from the owner, M. Moreno Robins Properties, L.C., for the purchase price of $797,000. TNC has received funding through the State of Utah, Quality Growth Commission's LeRay McAllister Critical Land Conservation Program (LeRay McAllister Fund). Under the LeRay McAllister Fund, a state agency is required to hold the conservation easement. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has agreed to be the holder. Immediately upon TNC's acquisition, TNC will assign the conservation easement to UDAF. Acquisition of this conservation easement will help conserve local agricultural land, maintain habitat for nesting and migratory birds, and maintain open space and views from existing public trails. Closing is expected to occur on or before December 31, 2020.
Project Narrative:
Closing on the acquisition of the conservation easement and subsequent transfer to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food was completed on December 18, 2020. ESMF funds in the amount of $10,000 were sent to The Nature Conservancy post-closing, and was applied to the $797,000 purchase price.
Future Management:
Since the project has closed and funds have been applied to the acquisition purchase price, there are no further recommendations for this project.
Closing on the acquisition of the conservation easement and subsequent transfer to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) was completed on December 18, 2020. ESMF funds in the amount of $10,000 were sent to The Nature Conservancy post-closing, and was applied to the $797,000 purchase price. UDAF will be responsible for monitoring the Property for compliance with the terms and conditions of the conservation easement.
Map Features
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Project Map
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