A conservation easement agreement signed last week between Mountain View County and Legacy Land Trust Society for a property southwest of Sundre will benefit the community-at-large for years to come, stakeholders say.
Reeve Bruce Beattie, county CAO Tony Martens and society executive director Tammy Mather signed the agreement during a brief ceremony at the county office on Oct. 11.
Under the agreement, 644 acres of county-owned land at Jackson Lake southeast of Sundre will be subject to perpetual sustainable conservation stewardship.
Over the past several years the land has been leased out for livestock grazing.
Although commercial development at the site will not be permitted, the society may create day-use areas and a trail system on the property, said Mather.
Under the agreement, the society will provide the county with $248,000, money that Beattie says will be used to enhance the county's environmental and conservation programs.
"We believe this (conservation easement agreement) sets an example that preservation of agricultural land and environmental stewardship are high on our list of priorities," said Beattie.
Mountain View County council approved the agreement at the Sept. 13 regularly scheduled council meeting.
The Legacy Land Trust Society provides private landowners with resources to conserve agricultural land, ecologically sensitive land, wildlife habitat and corridors, recreational areas and significant historical and archaeological sites, said Mather.
For more on the society's activities and programs, see legacylandtrustsociety.ca.
