By Bryce Nielson
Over the last 40+ years, I have driven around Bear Lake countless times.
I have watched most of the
shoreline cleared for growth with the exception of the State Park Lands which
are now campgrounds.
Throughout those years, I have focused on two areas that have remained natural. The first site is what used to be called Cedars and Shade on the east side in Idaho. It used to be a primitive campground but now it is reverting back to nature. Some of the last native lake junipers, wetlands and native cottonwoods, provide habitat for deer, raptors and countless small animals and plants.
Unfortunately, development is gnawing on both sides of it. The other site is at the mouth of Swan Creek canyon. Part of the old Lakota Resort that has remained untouched for 50+ years. In the distant past fish rearing ponds were excavated but were long since abandoned. It is now a beautiful wetland and shoreline choked with native vegetation and wildlife. It is hidden from US89 by old growth cottonwoods. Through agreements with a willing owner, the Bear River Land Conservancy was able to acquire a perpetual conservation easement on this unique site. No longer do I worry about it being cleared for condominiums. Now it is our job to take care of it forever. We have an small endowment set up to fund care but we need more for the future. We are looking for donors, large or small, to contribute to the maintenance of this site. All funds collected will be placed in the endowment for the Bear Lake Preserve.. If you can, be a part of Bear Lake forever.
http://iwjv.org/project/bear-river-land-conservancy-created-utah-habitat-conservation#sthash.FiI2kuSE Created for Utah Habitat Conservation A recently formed land trust fills a gap in northern Utah for habitat conservation. A showy orchid waves lightly in the breeze from its foundation in a wet meadow. White, intricate blooms line its stem. This is a Ute Ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis), a rare plant listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It occurs in the same type of wet meadow that is important to a host of wetland-dependent migratory...
Over the last 40+ years, I have driven around Bear Lake countless times.
Throughout those years, I have focused on two areas that have remained natural. The first site is what used to be called Cedars and Shade on the east side in Idaho. It used to be a primitive campground but now it is reverting back to nature. Some of the last native lake junipers, wetlands and native cottonwoods, provide habitat for deer, raptors and countless small animals and plants.
Unfortunately, development is gnawing on both sides of it. The other site is at the mouth of Swan Creek canyon. Part of the old Lakota Resort that has remained untouched for 50+ years. In the distant past fish rearing ponds were excavated but were long since abandoned. It is now a beautiful wetland and shoreline choked with native vegetation and wildlife. It is hidden from US89 by old growth cottonwoods. Through agreements with a willing owner, the Bear River Land Conservancy was able to acquire a perpetual conservation easement on this unique site. No longer do I worry about it being cleared for condominiums. Now it is our job to take care of it forever. We have an small endowment set up to fund care but we need more for the future. We are looking for donors, large or small, to contribute to the maintenance of this site. All funds collected will be placed in the endowment for the Bear Lake Preserve.. If you can, be a part of Bear Lake forever.
http://iwjv.org/project/bear-river-land-conservancy-created-utah-habitat-conservation#sthash.FiI2kuSE Created for Utah Habitat Conservation A recently formed land trust fills a gap in northern Utah for habitat conservation. A showy orchid waves lightly in the breeze from its foundation in a wet meadow. White, intricate blooms line its stem. This is a Ute Ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis), a rare plant listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It occurs in the same type of wet meadow that is important to a host of wetland-dependent migratory...
No comments:
Post a Comment