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Okanogan Land Trust meets commissioners to discuss conservation easements and collaboration
Summary
Okanogan Land Trust representatives briefed commissioners on their portfolio of conservation easements, funding challenges and potential collaboration on agricultural and town green‑space priorities.
Planning staff introduced Michelle Martin and Kate Miller of the Okanogan Land Trust (OLT), who described the land trust’s work and opportunities for local collaboration.
Michelle Martin said OLT currently “hold[s] 35 conservation easements in Okanogan County” spanning about 18,000 acres and explained the land‑trust process: identifying conservation values, negotiating deed restrictions with landowners, verifying baseline conditions (title, water, minerals) and planning perpetual stewardship. She said funding for agricultural easements has typically come from state or federal sources and that orchard and vineyard easements present particular challenges because of higher land values and potential environmental remediation concerns.
Commissioners and OLT staff discussed where the county’s comprehensive plan directs future growth and open‑space protection; planning staff explained that the county’s comprehensive plan and zoning map guide where development should be concentrated to protect water and infrastructure resources. OLT staff suggested potential collaboration on green spaces inside towns and on outreach to landowners who might consider donated or partially funded easements.
OLT staff said the organization has active projects at various stages, including funded agricultural easements and donated easements that will require stewardship planning. Commissioners and OLT agreed to stay in touch on mapping county priorities, potential joint funding opportunities, and sites where both conservation and future development planning intersect.
