Open spaces

There are some folks, not many, but some, who don't seem to like conservation easements in this county. Opponents apparently don't like the fact that open space is preserved "in perpetuity," even though many easements still allow traditional uses of the land, such as logging and farming.

We see easements as a win-win. The landowner gets to preserve his spread while also receiving significant tax breaks and other benefits. Such an easement was recently negotiated between the Nature Conservancy and the Blankenship family, and a few years back a similar deal kept the Rocky-Bar-O-Ranch up the North Fork intact.

We can only imagine what those properties would look like in 20 years without easements. Most likely they would be subdivided and parceled out. That's what is slowly, but surely, happening to the southern end of the county, where easement deals are few and far between.

Privately-funded easements are the fairest and most equitable way to save open space in this county. We believe they are a good idea and should be considered by any landowner who wants to keep their land dedicated to open space and traditional Montana values.