Conservation easement purchased near Republic
“The Gotham Ranch is providing beef, timber and livelihoods in a way that is compatible with the needs of wolverine, lynx and other wildlife,” Conservation Northwest Mitch Friedman said. “Nestled right up against the Kettle Crest and the potential wilderness lands there, this represents a great balance that I think a lot of people can get behind.”
REPUBLIC - Conservation Northwest has purchased a 303-acre conservation easement east of town in the Kettle Range.
The ranch and timber lands are part of Bryan and Deb Gotham’s 2,200-acre family ranch west of the Colville National Forest boundary along state Highway 20 not far from Sherman Pass.
“This transaction permanently commits these acres to continued agriculture, open space and wildlife habitat by retiring rights to develop residential or mineral values,” Conservation Northwest said.
“Our dream is for generations of our family to raise cattle, horses, and timber in this beautiful country,” Bryan and Deb Gotham said in a prepared statement. “Selling the development rights helps us today without compromising our dream for the future. We’re very happy about it.”
“The Gotham Ranch is providing beef, timber and livelihoods in a way that is compatible with the needs of wolverine, lynx and other wildlife,” Conservation Northwest Executive Director Mitch Friedman said. “Nestled right up against the Kettle Crest and the potential wilderness lands there, this represents a great balance that I think a lot of people can get behind.”
The easement was purchased with private money raised by the non-profit wildlife conservation organization. The easement soon will be reassigned to the Okanogan Land Trust, based in Tonasket, which works to protect open space and working lands in eastern Okanogan and western Ferry counties.
“We’re proud to partner with the Gothams to help protect this area’s heritage,” trust board member Walter Henze said. “We are also excited to have another project in Ferry County, and hope we can do more work here in the future.”
Conservation Northwest and Okanogan Land Trust are working with the Gothams on an application to the Forest Legacy Program, administered by the state Department of Natural Resources.
The application was one of the top three in the state, moving it forward to compete nationally for federal funds that would allow purchase of a working forest easement on most of the rest of the Gotham property. Conservation Northwest also has an option for the purchase of an easement on additional Gotham land.
The effort is part of Conservation Northwest’s program to protect wildlife habitat on public and private lands in northeast Washington.
