Location: May, Idaho in the Pahsimeroi Valley.
Land Size: 353 acres
Year Completed: 2013
Home to elk, deer, bighorn sheep, antelope, wolves and black bears, the Pahsimeroi Valley is wild and rugged, flanked on both sides by towering mountains. For four generations, the O’Neal family has called this ranch home and the property is now run by Ted & Debbie O’Neal. When asked why they chose to place a conservation easement on their ranch, Ted O’Neal answered simply “This keeps us whole.” Ensuring the property can remain a working ranch while enhancing native fish and wildlife habitat is a priority of this conservation easement. Additionally, protecting the many spring heads on the property, such as the one pictured on the left, is a critical piece of this conservation easement.
This conservation easement is the second in a package of four Pahsimeroi Valley conservation easements as part of a joint venture between LRLT and The Nature Conservancy. Ultimately this package will result in nearly 5,800 acres under conservation easements and permanent protection for approximately 5 3/4 miles of the Pahsimeroi River, two miles of Pahsimeroi River tributaries and spring and wetland sources.
