2023-11-14T13:29:45-08:00 2022-12-31 810390489 Boyle Deveny & Meyer PC 305 South 4th East Suite 200 Missoula MT 59801 990 2022-01-01 311595967 BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST BITT 4063750956 PO BOX 1806 HAMILTON MT 59840 GAVIN RICKLEFS Executive Dir. 2023-11-14 true GAVIN RICKLEFS 999009999 true Jaime Ward CPA P00441760 4067213555 2 AAL1 IAL1 FAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z GAVIN RICKLEFS PO BOX 1806 HAMILTON MT 59840 1743262 false X WWW.BITTERROOTLANDTRUST.ORG X 1997 MT BRLT PARTNERS WITH LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO CONSERVE the WATER, WILDLIFE, AND WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES IN MONTANA'S BITTERROOT VALLEY FOR all GENERATIONS, utilizing conservation easements, fee purchases, and proactive land stewardship. 13 13 8 120 0 1305488 1341434 0 14853 187988 1574 3840 1321915 1533262 0 0 548769 649623 0 107095 177719 389494 726488 1039117 595427 494145 2204388 3058260 15304 491033 2189084 2567227 X BRLT PARTNERS WITH LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO CONSERVE the WATER, WILDLIFE, AND WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES IN MONTANA'S BITTERROOT VALLEY FOR all GENERATIONS, utilizing conservation easements, fee purchases, and proactive land stewardship. false false 796565 Bitter Root Land Trust partnered with local families and the community to preserve 2,028 acres from the Burnt Fork of Stevensville to Skalkaho south of Hamilton in 2022. This included four new conservation easements that protected a diverse suite of community and natural benefits. Bitter Root Land Trust partnered with local landowners and the local community to complete their largest easement to date at over 1,260 acres. See Schedule O for additional Details. 796565 true true false true false false true true false true true false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 7 0 true 8 true false false false false false false true 1 false false false false false false false X 13 13 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true false true true true false X X GAVIN RICKLEFS 4063750095 170 S SECOND ST STE B HAMILTON MT 59840 GAVIN RICKLEFS Executive Dir. 40.00 0.00 X 113858 0 0 JEAN STEELE Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 LYNN THURBER Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL BRADT Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN ORMISTON Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 TORI NOBLES Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 HEATHER MENNING Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 ROGER GANTZ Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 KATHIE MESSER Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 SARI KERSLAKE Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 ANDREW MASSIE Treasurer 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 TONIA BLOOM Secretary 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 MEGHAN HANSON Vice President 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 BRET YOUNG President 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 113858 1 false false false 0 X 213214 1128220 94287 1341434 0 16498 16498 0 0 0 381490 210000 171490 171490 171490 3840 3840 3840 0 0 0 1533262 171490 20338 0 0 0 0 113858 78858 20000 15000 0 448816 349304 65698 33814 15639 12511 1720 1408 26984 21587 2968 2429 44326 35461 4876 3989 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6764 6764 18449 12914 3690 1845 0 0 18221 14577 1949 1695 0 0 0 7420 7420 0 3935 3935 6058 2601 3457 PROJECT & STEWARDSHIP EXP 202407 202407 PROFESSIONAL FEES 40085 10021 18439 11625 PRINTING & POSTAGE 21284 14189 7095 FUNDRAISING & SPECIAL EVENTS 19576 19576 45295 34715 8725 1855 1039117 796565 135457 107095 X 514021 461667 496898 489975 0 0 0 0 0 0 15758 680155 52599 223048 627556 829621 1370504 0 0 0 140800 92800 2204388 3058260 15304 7743 483290 15304 491033 X 1900687 2496016 288397 71211 2189084 2567227 2204388 3058260 494145 -116002 X X false true X true false X 612334 853897 1109235 1305488 1341434 5222388 0 0 612334 853897 1109235 1305488 1341434 5222388 324166 4898222 13361 16423 15316 14853 16498 76451 0 0 5298839 0.92440 0.87480 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false false false false false false true 32289 false false true 366 32655 false false X X X 53 11 1 true 20 62882 false 92800 true 80195 2571 65580 291 148055 35970 42279 1946 80195 12461 23058 451 35970 11036 1475 50 12461 11906 -870 11036 1.00000 false false false 615000 615000 65155 52599 12556 627556 1412773 -116002 -116002 1528775 4487 4487 1533262 1034630 1034630 4487 4487 1039117 Part II, Line 9: Organization Reporting of conservation easements. THE BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST EXPENSES IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ANY COSTS OF ACQUISTION OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS REPRESENT RIGHTS TO RESTRICT THE USE OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES. BY ACCEPTING AN EASEMENT CONTRIBUTION, THE BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST COMMITS TO PROTECTING THE EASEMENT RESTRICTIONS IN PERPETUITY. THE EASEMENTS HAVE NO MARKET VALUE AS THEY TECHNICALLY CANNOT BE SOLD BUT REMAIN ATTACHED AS A DEEDED RESTRICTION TO THE PROPERTY AND ACCORDINGLY ARE NOT INCLUDED AS ASSETS OF THE ORGANIZATION SINCE THE UNDRELYING PROPERTY TO WHICH THE EASEMENT IS ATTACHED IS NOT OWNED BY THE ORGANIZATION. Part V, Line 4: Intended uses of the endowment fund. THE PURPOSE OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND IS TO SUSTAIN THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK INTO THE FUTURE ONCE THE FUND IS CAPITALIZED. X 5 94287 false false false Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE PROVIDED A COPY OF THE 990 PRIOR TO SUBMISSION Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c THE ORGANIZATION HAS A WRITTEN CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. THE PROCEDURE FOR ADDRESSING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IS PROVIDED IN THE POLICY AND ADHERED TO BY THE BOARD. INSIDERS SIGN THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15a EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY IS DETERMINED ANNUALLY BY THE FULL BOARD USING STATE AND REGIONAL COMPARISON DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED BY THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS 990, 1023, GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD TO PERFORM THE OVERSIGHT FUNCTION FOR THE SELECTION AND THE WORK PERFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. PART III, Line 4a Conservation Easement Monitoring, Stewardship, and Land Management/Enhancement:The Stewardship program monitored all 53 of our conservation easements and fee land holdings in 2022. Additionally, stewardship staff worked with a local landowner to restore montane grassland habitats on their conservation easement for improved wildlife habitat. Conservation Education:In 2022, Bitter Root Land Trust continued building a lasting conservation legacy in the Bitterroot Valley by partnering with local families and our community to conserve important farm and ranchland, wildlife and fisheries habitat, scenic open space, and public recreational opportunities. These conservation victories protected over 2,028 acres from Illinois Bench to Conner and preserved a diverse suite of community and natural benefits, including prime agricultural soils, spawning grounds for native trout, winter habitat for elk and mule deer, and public access to the Bitterroot River. Bitter Root Land Trust staff secured and spent $2,683,750 from public and private sources to purchase conservation easements on three of these important properties, which payments were made directly to the landowners during closing and do not appear as revenue or expenses of BRLT on this 990. Further, BRLT continued to work closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Services Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to implement a $4.9 million grant designed to diversify agricultural conservation, support beginning farmers and ranchers, and increase the pace of farm and ranch conservation efforts in the Bitterroot. These RCPP funds will be used to purchase conservation easements from willing landowners through 2025, with the first projects set to close in 2023. As we do every year, staff monitored all 53 of our conservation easements in 2023. Bitter Root Land Trust again invested in conservation education programs to raise community awareness - among adults and students - of the importance of the Bitterroot Valleys water, wildlife, and working agricultural lands. 2022 was the first year after the COVID-19 pandemic that the Bitter Root Land Trust was able to resume its traditional conservation education activities. The Annual Barn Dance which connects community members to conserved spaces was held at the conserved Sutherlin Farms. The BRLT staff participated in farmers markets, a youth expo, and various other community events to further conservation educational opportunities for all ages.Conservation Project Work: Fishing and Recreational Access Projects:I. In 2022, Bitter Root Land Trust continued their partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the Bitterroot National Forest to complete recreation infrastructure projects at C. Ben White Memorial Fishing Access Site and Trailhead located near Conner, MT. Through this partnership, a one-mile trail through state-held land to access the Bitterroot National Forest was completed. II. Bitter Root Land Trust continued to coordinate volunteer days with other nonprofits and the Hamilton High School at Skalkaho Bend Park to pull weeds at the park, improve signage for native plantings, and water the native plantings that had taken place the year before. Completed Conservation Projects: I. In June 2022, Bitter Root Land Trust completed the Haywire Flats conservation easement, a 258-acre working lands project located in the Burnt Fork. The Haywire Flats property was the last piece of the puzzle that created a 7,150-acre contiguous link of open land preserved by numerous landowners in the Burnt Fork neighborhood for wildlife, agriculture, and future generations that begins on the foothills of the Sapphire Mountains and runs to Logan Lane on the outskirts of Stevensville. Funding for the Haywire Flats conservation easement was provided by the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program and the Heart of the Rockies Keep it Connected program.II. In July 2022, Bitter Root Land Trust completed the 420-acre Triple D Ranch conservation easement in Stevensville, MT. This land consists mostly of hay and pasture ground that supports the familys cattle operation, Skyline Angus. The ranch also serves as a wildlife corridor for a variety of different native species including elk and deer, adding to more than 7,000 protected acres of family farms, ranches, and wildlife habitat in the Burnt Fork neighborhood alone. Funding for Triple D Ranch easement came from the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program and the Agricultural Land Easement Program of the Farm Bill.III. Also in July of 2022, Bitter Root Land Trust worked with landowners to conserve Triple D II; the 1,260-acre ranch comprised of open-space rangeland that includes sagebrush shrublands and montane grasslands, along with miles of ephemeral creeks and riparian habitat, all of which collectively support locally important species such as elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and fox, and Species of Concern such as Brewers sparrow, evening grosbeak and sage thrasher. Funding for this project came from the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program and the Agricultural Land Easement Program of the Farm Bill.IV. At the end of 2022, Bitter Root Land Trust worked with the landowner to complete the donated Sough Conservation Easement. The 75-acre property, conserved in December, consists of mostly dry land. Its riparian area and its aspen, cottonwood, and birch trees support various animal visitors year-round, including a wide variety of bird species, bobcats, mountain lions, and mule deer, and occasional visits from the Skalkaho herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. The landowner donated the easement and there was no funding for the project.In addition to completing these critical conservation projects, Bitter Root Land Trust staff continued to work with local and federal partners to further agricultural conservation programs in the Bitterroot Valley that encourage high-value farmland conservation, agricultural diversification, and generational succession. Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bitter Root Land Trust applied for farm bill funding to purchase new conservation easements in 2023/2024. Staff saw an increased interest from landowners looking to pursue conservation options and met with dozens of interested landowners. Those meetings yielded additional conservation projects that will proceed in 2023 and beyond. As a result of this partnership between Bitter Root Land Trust, local landowners, the NRCS, and the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program many of these landowners will choose to conserve their family lands. Conservation Easement Monitoring and Enforcement: I. Bitter Root Land Trust remained committed to upholding Land Trust Commission Accreditation Standards in 2022. Bitter Root Land Trust staff monitored all 53 of our existing conservation easements and our fee land holdings in 2022, ensuring that terms have not been violated and that conservation objectives remain intact. We further invested time in developing and maintaining relationships with existing easement holders to ensure that the conservation objectives agreed to by landowners and the land trust are being upheld. II.Land Management/Enhancement: Bitterroot Land Trust and MPG Ranch partnered with a multigenerational ranching family to restore montane grassland habitats on the 467-acre Weber Ranch conservation easement. 70 acres of retired crop fields were planted with a diverse community of dryland grasses and wildflowers, extending a local mosaic of ecologically important sagebrush and grassland habitats. Birds, insects, and vegetation will all be monitored in the restoration area prior to and after the project, in collaboration with local partners including Bitterroot Audubon Society, Project Night Flight, Northern Rockies Research and Educational Services, and Montana State University Extension. Bitter Root Land Trust staff has continued to look for other opportunities for value-added land management grants to continue providing ongoing support to Bitter Root Land Trusts conservation easement donors and their neighbors.Conservation Education :In 2022, Bitter Root Land Trust was able to return to our traditional channels and meant to create meaningful, on-the-ground conservation education. The Annual Barn Dance returned for the first time since the COVID-19 Pandemic. Over 300 community members gathered at the conserved Sutherlin Farms to celebrate conservation. The staff also participated in the local Hamilton Farmers Market and provided conservation education at community events across the Bitterroot Valley, including Hamilton Downtown Associations Daly Days, Stevensvilles Creamery Picnic, Darbys Last Friday, and pint nights. As an added educational opportunity, the Land Trust partnered with the Hamilton Downtown Association to hang banners throughout downtown to help gain awareness for the work of the land trust to preserve the water, wildlife, and working lands of the Bitterroot Valley. In 2022, Land Trus PART VII 7A-7D In 2022, BRLT DISPOSED OF a riverfront parcel of land for public recreational access and fisheries/habitat conservation on the East Fork of the Bitterroot River. The 12-acre East Fork Sula Fishing access site was sold to the Bitterroot National Forest and it will be developed in future years for public fishing, walking, and wildlife viewing. This asset was held directly for our programmatic conservation and recreational purposes. THE COST BASIS OF THIS LAND WAS $210,000 AND THE SALE RESULTED IN $158,650 OF GAIN TO BRLT. THE REMAINING $12,840 CONSIST OF REALIZED GAINS FROM SECURITIES SOLD WITHIN BRLT'S INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS. Part X, Line 10(a) Of the $680,155 total in fixed assets, $615,000 consists of 160 Acres of land in ten parcels purchased by BRLT in 2022 for the Eastside Project. This land, which hosts a wide variety of wildlife and is prominently visible from the mid-valley, was likely to be converted to other uses prior to BRLT's acquisition. This asset is held directly for BRLT's programmatic conservation purposes.