We all enjoy the quality of life that makes southwestern Utah a great place to call home. But as the population grows, the very qualities that draw people to move here are at risk of being lost forever. If recreational access, scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, and agricultural land are essential to quality of life in Washington County, how can we preserve them for future generations?
The best way to permanently protect privately-owned open lands is with the voluntary conservation options offered by a land trust.
The Virgin River Land Preservation Association is a community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit land trust working to preserve lands with recreational, scenic, ecological, agricultural, and other conservation values in the Virgin River basin. We offer alternatives to land use regulation that are voluntary, meet the needs of the private property owner, and permanently protect open land. These techniques include purchases of land or development rights at fair market value, tax deductions for charitable donations of land or conservation easements, and a unique combination of purchase and donation known as a “bargain sale.”
Since our incorporation in 1993, we have helped landowners permanently conserve nearly 3700 acres of privately owned open lands.
LeRay McAllister Critical Land Conservation Fund and the Legislature
There have recently been a couple informative articles on conservation funding in Utah in the Deseret News, March 11 and March 13, 2013:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765624449/Spend-for-conservation.html
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865575512/Land-purchase-funds-dwindling-infusion-of-state-money-unlikely.html
East Zion Buffalo Meadows Protected with a Conservation Easement
Thanks to the dedication and vision of a major landowner in east Zion, the support of the Kane County Commission, and the support of State Bank of Southern Utah, we have successfully completed our first conservation easement in Kane County. The Buffalo Meadow has become a well-known landmark on the east side of Zion National Park. Over 300 acres in size, its protection helps ensure future agricultural uses in the scenic east entrance corridor. Please join us in expressing appreciation to the funders that made this acquisition possible:
YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK
Virgin River Land Working to Expand Easements in Pine Valley Meadows
Your donation helps support additional easements in Pine Valley Meadows. Current easements protect agricultural uses on the west side of the lane, and we are ready to expand that protection to the east side. VRLPA has been approached by additional landowners wanting to permanently dedicate their meadow property for agricultural use by retiring their development rights.
Please consider including VRLPA in your annual giving—the gift of open land is a gift that lasts and makes the world a better place for all.
Click on our online donation button or print, complete and mail a membership form today. Go to the 'Support Us' tab, scroll down to 'Ways to Help' and click on the 'membership form' link. Thanks!!
Online donations are easy and enable us to do our work! We are now using PayPal to ensure safe and secure online processing. Credit cards are accepted and you don't need a PayPal account. Save a stamp and make a contribution today! Click here!
Please join us in Springdale for our annual meeting, Saturday April 20th, 2013 at 7 PM in the Canyon Community Center following the 9th annual Earth Day Celebration. We are excited to be celebrating 20 years of private land conservation in southwestern Utah. We will discuss conservation priorities, projects, and introduce a new program designed to accelerate land protecion efforts around Zion National Park. Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be served.
Please check back often for new info as our website is undergoing renovations with new info being added regularly.