The Utah Quality Growth Commission is now accepting applications for loans and grants from the LeRay McAllister Critical Land Conservation Fund. Utah local entities (counties, cities and towns), charitable organizations that qualify as tax exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and certain state agencies may apply.

The Utah Quality Growth Commission was appointed by Governor Leavitt in April, 1999 under the authority of the Quality Growth Act of 1999. The Act established the LeRay McAllister Critical Land Conservation Fund to be administered by the Commission. Money from the Fund must be used to preserve or restore open lands and agricultural lands. Applicants must provide matching funds equal to or greater than the amount of money received from the Fund.

During 1999 the Commission approved five applications and allocated over two million dollars to preserve six thousand acres of agricultural and open land throughout Utah. The applicants' matching funds totaled over ten million dollars. The five projects funded by the Commission are showcase examples of various types of critical land conservation needs in Utah.
 

Below is a list of projects receiving an allocation from the LeRay McAllister Critical Land Conservation Fund:
 

Project	Location	Acreage	Allocation	Matching Funds	Total
Peaceful Valley Ranch	Morgan County	5,510	$750,000	$ 4,756,000	$ 5,506,000
Virgin River Confluence	Washington County	120	$500,000	$ 3,800,000	$ 4,300,00
Grafton Town	Washington County	221	$250,000	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,350,000
Curtis Jones Farm	San Juan County	159	$347,550	$ 347,550	$ 695,100
Black Agriland	Davis County	39	$172,000	$ 222,000	$ 394,000
Total		6,049	$2,019,550	$ 10,225,550	$ 12,245,100

Peaceful Valley Ranch:    The funds will be used to purchase conservation easements for the Peaceful Valley Ranch. This acquisition will prevent full-scale commercial or residential development and preserve the ranch's cultural, scenic, and natural resources. The ranch is located in East Canyon, between the urban development of East Canyon Resort and Jeremy Ranch, and is less than 15 miles from rapidly growing Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah. Peaceful Valley Ranch is the site of many of Utah's most important historic resources. The Donner-Reed, Mormon Pioneer, California, Overland Stage and Pony Express trails all pass through the ranch on their way to the Salt Lake Valley. Peaceful Valley Ranch contains a significant portion of the watershed for East Canyon creek and East Canyon reservoir. It also contains critical wildlife habitat for elk, mule deer, moose, mountain lion, bobcat, red fox, bald eagle, golden eagle, and American kestrel. Peaceful Valley Ranch is unique because it is a large, intact tract of high quality land that serves multiple purposes.

To learn more about this project click on www.savetheranch.com.
 
 

Image copyright John W. Barrus, 1999
 

Virgin River Confluence Project:          The funds will be used to purchase property and conservation easements. The area contains approximately 3.5 miles of riparian frontage providing critical habitat for various endangered and threatened fish species, including the Woundfin, Virgin River Chub and Virgin Spinedace. The confluence of the Virgin River with Ash and LaVerkin Creeks occurs in a unique and dramatic canyon of cottonwood and willows framed by black basalt cliffs. Purchasing this land protects the County's water supply for future development. This site contains Petroglyphs and represents where the Escalante Expedition crossed the Virgin River in 1776. The canyon where Ash and LaVerkin Creeks join the Virgin river provides unparalleled opportunities for picnicking, hiking, bird watching and horseback riding among shady stands of cottonwood and sandy beaches. Development pressures are also affecting this area.
Image copyright Mark G. Bedel, 1999
 

Grafton Town:                                          The funds will be used to purchase the Stout's Riverview Ranch and establish a conservation easement for the preservation of historic Grafton as well as the surrounding area. Residents of Rockville want to permanently protect the open space and agricultural values of the land next to scenic Zion National Park and portions of the Virgin River. Their intent is to preserve and protect in perpetuity the unique character of this original Utah agricultural community. Grafton is one of the most photographed ghost towns in the West. It stands as a testimony to the hard work, tenacity and determination of its early Mormon agriculturalists. This will also reduce the threat of housing, commercial and golf course development.
 
 

Image copyright Lin Alder, 1999
 

The Curtis Jones Farm: The farm is situated on the north bank of the San Juan River, directly east of Bluff. There is a 10 acre riparian wetlands between the farm's south boundary and the river, which provides habitat for deer, beaver, coyote, ring-necked pheasants, and a tremendous variety of migratory waterfowl including Canada geese, great blue heron, snowy egret, and various ducks. These wetlands continue westwards to merge with the riparian wetlands currently protected in the Bluff Community Nature Preserve. South of the farm within the cliffs a number of alcoves contain prehistoric Anasazi "cliff dwellings." The soil survey of San Juan County identifies the soils as prime farmland. Today the farm produces 20,000 bales of hay. The farm's principal customers are Navajo people who live on the reservation. If the farm goes these people will be forced to travel farther to the north and east to purchase hay to maintain their traditional economic and subsistence base. This is the last working farm in Bluff.
 
 

Black Agriland: The Black Agriland parcel provides critical wildlife habitat as well as recreational bird watching opportunity. The Black Agriland proposed easement is located adjacent to The Nature Conservancy of Utah's 3,000 acre Layton Wetlands Preserve. Black Agriland, currently under agricultural production, serves as a valuable productive vegetable farm, natural buffer for the wetlands and habitat for migratory birds. The natural and agricultural values of this property on the shores of the Great Salt Lake are threatened by potential future residential development in Davis County. It provides an open view of the Great Salt Lake to residents and visitors of western Davis County. The wetlands on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake are some of the most productive for bird life in the world. They provide critical nesting, and foraging habitat for over 240 individual species of birds. The Great Salt Lake is rare and unusual since it is the largest inland saline lake in the nation. This area of wetlands has been recognized by the western Hemisphere Shorebirds Reserve network as having hemispheric significance and as one of the worlds most critical migratory bird locations.