Imagine the Methow - The Campaign for Conservation in the Methow Valley

Conservation easements are the tool used by the Methow Conservancy when working with private landowners who are interested in voluntarily protecting their land here in the Methow Valley. Did you know:

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that reduces or eliminates future development (building) potential in order to protect a property’s conservation values while retaining private ownership of the land. The Methow Conservancy accepts the easement with the understanding that it must enforce the terms of the easement in perpetuity. After the easement is signed, it is recorded with Okanogan County and applies to all future owners of the land.
A conservation easement protects the important fertile soils and farmable land, wildlife habitat, functioning forests, waterways and floodplains, or scenic views of a piece of property.
Conservation easements can and often do allow for some future development —but the development potential is reduced.
Each conservation easement is unique. A conservation easement is specific to the unique qualities of each property and the unique vision of each landowner who works with the Methow Conservancy to create one.
A conservation easement is a partnership between the private landowner and the Methow Conservancy. The Methow Conservancy does not own the land –it remains on the tax rolls as a private held property. The Methow Conservancy does take on a commitment to ensure that the tenets of the conservation easement are upheld forever into the future. The Methow Conservancy maintains a Stewardship Fund to ensure that we will always be able to ensure that our easements remain protected.
A conservation easement does not grant public access, though many of the Methow Valley’s recreational trails do cross through conserved properties thanks to many generous and community-minded landowners.
A conservation easement is a statement of shared values that are important to both the landowner and the Methow Conservancy. Every landowner emphasizes different values, just as every property presents unique natural beauty and habitat value. A conservation easement is not designed to hinder the enjoyment or personal use of private property. It is designed to protect, for the long-term, wildlife habitats, open space, sustainable agriculture, meandering rivers, fresh air and brilliant night skies.

See our Campaign Newsletter to read a few examples of conservation easements on the ground.