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2007 Renewal Letter
February 5, 2007
The Board of Directors and I would like to update you on the activities,
progress and changes with the Payette Land Trust (PLT) in 2006. This has been a
rewarding year for our land trust and conservation in the United States. The
Congress passed new legislation that increased the deduction for a Conservation
Easement from 30% to 50% of the donors “adjusted gross income”. The new law also
increased the number of years that this deduction can be carried forward from 6
years to 16 years. Qualified ranchers and farmers may take 100% deduction for a
Conservation Easement. This legislation ends on December 31, 2007.
The Payette Land Trust has enjoyed an active and productive year. The PLT more
than tripled its protected property from 440 acres to 1800 acres. In September a
Conservation Easement was donated on a 288 acre family ranch. In December the
Blackhawk Wildlife Preserve was the first conservation easement donated by a
developer in Valley County to permanently protect an important piece of habitat
for McCall’s wildlife. The Boar’s Nest Ranch, located just south of Riggins,
preserved 852 acres in yet another CE. We are happy to announce the addition of
two new board members. Bill McMurray and Jim Fronk have joined the PLT Board of
Directors.
The Payette Land Trust was founded in 1993 and is dedicated to the protection
and preservation of undeveloped open spaces in Idaho. We work closely and
cooperatively with private landowners to ensure the long-term conservation and
responsible stewardship of lands valuable for their natural, scenic,
recreational, or historical value. Among the properties we seek for conservation
are farms, wetlands, important wildlife habitat, ranches, forests, urban gardens
and parks, riparian zones, and trail corridors.
Long Valley has been experiencing rapid growth and development over the past two
years, spurred by the opening of a four-season luxury resort near McCall. We
have entered a crucial point in the history of our area -- a point of transition
that many beautiful western communities have already faced with mixed results.
We must act now to preserve the wild legacy of our mountain west -- for our
existing residents, for future generations, for our newcomers, and perhaps most
of all, for all of the wildlife that makes the inland west so unique, wild, and
special.
The PLT is poised to have a significant impact on the future appearance and
character of our unique Idaho lands. With your help and others in our community,
the Land Trust Board’s goal of doubling its current portfolio of protected open
space in 2007 is, indeed, realistic. Please consider renewing your membership
and completing the enclosed donation form. We will use this funding for the
purchase of future Conservation Easements and operating expenses of the land
trust. You may choose to designate your donation for either. The Payette Land
Trust is also actively seeking volunteers to help with stewardship visits,
website maintenance/improvements, office support and a variety of other tasks.
Contact me if you have any questions or we can provide any services. We greatly
appreciate your support and donation. Visit our office in McCall or our web page
at payettelandtrust.org.
Sincerely,
Bob Vosskuhler
Executive Director
Payette Land Trust
309 E Lake Street
Phone 208-634-4999
Cell 208-630-4450
McCall, ID 83638
payettelandtrust.org
Payette Land Trust
Preserving Idaho’s Beauty
Board of Directors
Steven Millemann–President, Don Driscoll, Vice President, Rick Fereday, Jim
Fronk, John Kwader Bill McMurray
The Payette Land Trust is a non profit (501© 3) dedicated to protecting
and preserving open space in Valley County.
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