2026-03-05T11:25:47-07:00 2025-04-30 990 2024-05-01 870480542 UTAH OPEN LANDS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION INC UTAH 8014636156 1488 South Main Street Salt Lake City UT 84115 Wendy Fisher Executive Director 8014636156 2026-03-09 1 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Utah Open Lands Wendy Fisher 1488 S Main Street Salt Lake City UT 84115 11396868 0 X www.utahopenlands.org X 1990 UT Preservation, protection and stewardship of open space, in perpetuity, in order to maintain Utah's natural heritage and quality of life for present and future generations. 15 15 9 20 0 0 1323172 10819136 0 0 472185 530919 26098 19224 1821455 11369279 0 0 0 0 381766 500537 0 0 66312 275987 436864 657753 937401 1163702 10431878 12196524 22608738 81412 61748 12115112 22546990 Utah Open Lands' mission is to preserve and protect open space, in perpetuity, in order to maintain Utah's natural heritage and quality of life for present and future generations. The purpose of Utah Open Lands is to permanently protect land in Utah by acquiring title or a conservation easement; including the stewardship of these properties in order to protect the conservation values, inspire and educate landowners, local & statewide leaders, professional advisers and the public about the importance of land conservation. 0 0 429786 0 0 LAND CONSERVATION: From community backed protection campaigns to critical habitat for species of greatest concern, Utah Open Lands crafted conservation easements to ensure land protection on incredible resource lands, community open spaces and lands of ecological significance. Ongoing negotiations include land that surrounds the Great Salt Lake and the wetlands that sustain the Lake, landscapes that buffer our national defense at Camp Williams as well as provide community trails, open space and agricultural lands and lands adjacent to stunning landscapes that capture state, international and national visitors. Four projects were finalized this reporting period and the organizations is continuing the consideration, investigation, discussion and negotiation on more than 20 projects. The Beard Family conservation easement include a rare and valuable ecosystem value called a fen. This nutrient rich, peat like wetland provides multiple ecosystem services and on the Beard Family conservation easement the fens are protected along with multiple natural springs that flow directly to Willard Bay. Close to Utah Lake, lands surrounding Camp Williams are considered part of the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape. This Sentinel Landscape Designation is part of a concerted effort to buffer Camp Williams and its role in the readiness of our National Defense by protecting lands that contain wildlife habitat, working agricultural lands, scenic viewsheds and public trail system opportunities. As Utah Open Lands continues to work with the officers at Camp Williams and the landowners in the area we completed three conservation easements with our partner the Conservation Fund and Utah Open Lands as grantee will defend and steward these conservation easements in perpetuity. 281615 0 0 STEWARDSHIP: Utah Open Lands has continued to expand its stewardship responsibilities by monitoring every property it has protected. As new lands are acquired and permanently conserved, they are incorporated into the organization's perpetual stewardship and monitoring program. Through regular site visits and documentation, stewardship staff verify compliance with conservation easements and track the condition and direction of each property's conservation values over time, ensuring that the purposes of protection are upheld year after year. Utah Open Lands has also continued collaborative work with state and local agencies, as well as private landowners, to enhance public access, ecological integrity, wildlife habitat, scenic resources, and trail systems at Bonanza Flat Conservation Area (1,500 acres) and the adjacent 45-Star Preserve (3,120 acres) - both highly valued landscapes that support passive recreation and conservation. Building on the success of a free transit pilot program developed in partnership with Park City Municipal Corporation, the city has formally incorporated the program into its transportation system. Since then, Utah Open Lands has continued working to expand free transit access to Bonanza Flat for residents throughout the Wasatch Front. Additional stewardship initiatives during this period included invasive species mitigation, trail reroutes on public conservation properties, and larger-scale forest health and habitat improvement projects on privately protected lands. 55476 0 0 EDUCATION and OUTREACH: Conservation education at Utah Open Lands ranges from seminars we host for those professionals who deal with conservation easements to restoration and management plan lessons we have learned from monitoring and enforcing our conservation easements. The organization routinely presented at Rotary clubs, league of Women Voter Forums, practitioner seminars, city councils and University Classes. In particular, Utah Open Lands presented at three University of Utah Law classes as well as providing lectures the League of Women Voters and several town halls. Utah Open Lands was also asked to present at two Utah Lake Authority community visioning events. The organization in partnership with the Park City Museum held its annual hike which explores protected landscapes and the ecological and historical context of the land. The organization engaged at tabling events at the Front Climbing gym, and for a regional trail mixer. Utah Open Lands continued with our annual Gaining Ground | Trying Times Symposium hosted by the University of Utah's SJ Quinney School of Law and Wallace Stegner Center in an effort to educate elected officials, state and local agencies, students, landowners, attorney, appraisers and other conservation professionals. The presentation provides information from IRS representatives, appraisers, Utah Open Lands staff and board members, and conservation specialists and attorneys, in order to review land trust requirements, laws and recent legal cases affecting land trusts, local conservation and professional scholarship. 0 0 0 766877 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 9 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 15 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 CA CO UT X Catherine Cargill 8014636156 1488 South Main Street Salt Lake City UT 84115 Wendy Fisher Executive Director 40 X 97949 0 21216 Wendy Zeigler Past President 3 0 X 0 0 0 Kate Ferguson President 5 0 X 0 0 0 Nancy McLaughlin Vice President 3 0 X 0 0 0 Adam Bahna Treasurer 5 0 X 0 0 0 Megan Houdeshel Secretary 3 0 X 0 0 0 Jeff Appel Board Member 1 0 X 0 0 0 John Andrews Board Member 1 0 X 0 0 0 Des Barker Board Member 1 0 X 0 0 0 Brad Barber Board Member 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jon Clyde Board Member 1 0 X 0 0 0 Christine Mikell Board Member 1 0 X 0 0 0 Mark Raming Board Member 1 0 X 0 0 0 Heleena Sideris Board Member 2 0 X 0 0 0 Matt Steward Past President 1 0 X 0 0 0 Janine Troilo Board Member 2 0 X 0 0 0 97949 0 21216 1 0 0 0 0 1322 0 179093 0 282236 10356485 8153004 10819136 0 0 0 0 0 530919 530919 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 46813 179093 27589 19224 0 19224 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11369279 530919 0 19224 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 90504 84134 0 6370 0 0 0 0 322966 221368 73920 27678 14655 10698 2931 1026 38404 28419 6913 3072 34008 25166 6121 2721 0 0 0 0 28004 28004 0 0 25475 22673 1019 1783 0 0 0 0 0 0 23910 21280 956 1674 0 0 0 0 2068 689 689 690 35117 31254 1405 2458 3637 3237 145 255 0 0 0 0 6785 6039 271 475 7218 3609 0 3609 0 0 0 0 868 772 35 61 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25153 8384 8384 8385 31286 27845 1251 2190 Land Acquisition / Mgmt (not included above) 85826 85826 0 0 Outreach & Education (not included above) 7730 3865 0 3865 Associated Monitoring/Restoration (not included above) 45774 45774 0 0 Property Tax on conserved properties 107841 107841 0 0 172 0 172 0 937401 766877 104212 66312 505563 612909 5010 0 0 7651 25526 18661 0 0 0 0 0 0 6654 6654 18128 41286 13438851 89021 5136786 13349830 0 0 0 0 6498857 8544773 0 0 0 26974 12196524 22608738 68954 50607 8500 8500 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3958 2641 81412 61748 X 5327890 6427746 6787222 16119244 12115112 22546990 12196524 22608738 10431878 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 1 1 0 X 863189 4249074 883347 1042632 530617 7568859 0 0 0 0 863189 4249074 883347 1042632 530617 7568859 658854 6910005 46878 -162107 165722 472186 530919 1053598 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8622457 225905 0.80140 0.84622 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X X X 111 53507 0 0 0 2 1 4000 281615 1 9376517 10912467 26855 0 424186 0 19891653 9241233 709082 28164 0 601962 0 9376517 9030775 534086 20283 0 343911 0 9241233 9099196 3540203 12681 0 3621305 0 9030775 7156112 2784889 17962 0 859767 0 9099196 0.19 0.05 0.76 0 0 692737 11663124 12355861 87710 891513 0 979223 0 0 0 0 0 103767 89021 14746 0 0 0 0 13349830 Fidelity Investment - Equities. This fund consists of permanently restricted funds for stewardship. 6764156 F Fidelity Investments: Money Market - Funds donated for a specific land project purpose. 1780617 F 8544773 1465 Long-term copier lease 1176 2641 11380593 0 0 0 11314 11314 11369279 0 0 0 11369279 948715 0 0 0 11314 11314 937401 0 0 0 937401 Schedule D, Part II, Line 5 Utah Open Lands (UOL) monitors its easement properties regularly, at least annually, in a manner appropriate to the size and restrictions of each property, and keeps documentation (such as reports, updated photographs and maps) of each monitoring activity. Monitoring helps develop a relationship with the landowner, helps discover any upcoming plans or changes in ownership, helps uncover violations, saves time and money on enforcement actions, and establishes a record in case of court action. Annual monitoring routinely reminds the landowner of the easement and provides a means for annual landowner contact. With annual monitoring, UOL can promptly document any changes in the property's condition relative to the easement. All monitoring activities are documented to build a record for future monitoring and in case UOL must address a violation. Some easements, such as those with particularly sensitive conditions may require monitoring more frequently than once a year. UOL uses a combination of on-the-ground review, aerial observation and other methods as appropriate for monitoring. UOL has established monitoring procedures that provide guidance for staff and volunteers. The procedures cover the purpose; frequency and method of monitoring; documentation and record-keeping; who should monitor; pitfalls to avoid, and how monitors should be trained. Procedures clearly describe each step of the monitoring process to ensure that all properties are inspected in a similar manner regardless of who conducts the monitoring visits. Schedule D, Part II, Line 9 "Contributed or purchased conservation easements are not considered by the Association to constitute general financial support. The Association considers an easement to be an ongoing cost since resources must be expended by the Association to permanently and annually monitor and enforce compliance of the terms of the easement. As a result, conservation easements are recorded at zero value in the Association's financial statements." - footnote excerpt from our most recent independently audited financials. Schedule D, Part V, Line 4 The Association's endowment is designated to support its stewardship activities. An established investment policy outlins performance criteria and investment guidelines, while spending policies are determined by the Board of Trustees/Directors. Earnings from the endowment are allocated specifically for stewardship, efforts and easement enforcement and are classified as net assets with donor restrictions until utilized for their intended purpose. Schedule D, Part XI, Line 2d Audit reduced income by subtracting investment management fees from investment income total by $23,910; AND increased income by adding all the gross fundraising receipt totals without adjusting net amounts by ($35,224). Schedule D, Part XII, Line 2d Audit reduced expenses by not including the investment management fees as an expense ($23,910); AND increased expenses by including fundraising expenses without adjusting net by $35,224. Portraits of Preservation - Gala 225905 179093 46812 0 0 0 26639 0 950 0 0 225905 179093 46812 0 0 0 26639 0 950 27589 19223 X 4 0 Expert Opinion see Part II X 1 8125000 fmv appraisal X Donated legal services 58 28003 58.2 hrs by 4 attys at an avg of $481.15/hr. 2 0 1 0 Schedule M, Part I, Line 33 "Contributed or purchased conservation easements are not considered by the Association to constitute general financial support. The Association considers an easement to be an ongoing cost since resources must be expended by the Association to permanently and annually monitor and enforce compliance of the terms of the easement. As a result, conservation easements are recorded at zero value in the Association's financial statements." - footnote excerpt from our most recent independently audited financials. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The Board of Directors review the final draft of the organization's 990 and all the relevant schedules prior to the board meeting scheduled prior to the 990 due date. The members of the Board that make up the Budget and Finance Committee review the 990 prior to said board meeting and make a recommendation to the full board, which is followed by any discussion or questions that may have come up in the full board's review (copies available at least a week prior to said meeting); followed by the board action to approve committee's recommendation. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Utah Open Lands' Board of Directors annually review and restate the Association's 'Conflict of Interest Policy'. This policy covers both the Board Members and the staff. The Board members regularly update and disclose any potential conflicts. In addition, in preparation of board meetings, the Executive Director reviews, with the Conservation Committee, the properties to be discussed and considered; agendas trigger the members to notify the Executive Director of any conflict they may have, or may appear to have. Board members who may have such a conflict, recuse themselves from the relevant portion of the meeting, and have no voting ability regarding the issue, and receive a redacted version of the minutes to review for next meeting's approval. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 Upon completing an annual Executive Director Performance Evaluation by the Executive Committee, and if a salary increase is determined, the current guidelines established through a survey by the Land Trust Alliance and the Utah Nonprofit Association, are used as a guide for comparable salaries for comparable positions, size of organization and area of operation. The approach is used for the increase of salary for other staff after employee performance evaluation by the Executive Director. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Utah Open Lands currently does not have a policy regarding public inspection. It is understood by the Association, and followed, that providing governing documents and financial statements if requested, are required to be made available for inspection. Utah Open Lands also complies with the State Auditor's Office, the Utah and Colorado State Solicitation rules to submit annually UOL's 990 report which these states make available to the public. Additionally, there exists websites that we are represented members of for the public and potential donors to review charitable organizations documentation including the990 (e.g. Guidestar). Not late. filed for and approved by IRS a 8868 extention due March 15, 2026