On June 5 the Ravalli County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 4710, authorizing the expenditure of $79,655 in open lands bond proceeds to help secure a conservation easement on the Lippert property west of Victor.

The proposed Lippert conservation easement, sponsored by the Bitterroot Land Trust, would protect approximately 69.61 acres of pasture, hay fields, small stands of ponderosa pine and cottonwood riparian corridors. The applicant is recorded as the Mabel Jean Lippert Revocable Trust.

County staff and Land Trust presenters said the property has strong water rights sourced from the Big Creek Lake Association and the Blake High Line Ditch Association and supports sprinkler and flood irrigation. The staff report lists the property as contiguous with other conserved or in-progress conservation projects in the Victor area and within elk and mule deer range. The Open Lands Board scored the project between 58 and 67 points with an average of 62 and recommended it to the commissioners for funding.

Dylan Ritter, project manager at the Bitterroot Land Trust, described the site and its features, including a 1.75-acre building envelope around existing residential and agricultural structures, an upper pasture and a pond. Ritter said the property is contiguous with other conservation projects and about 1.5 miles from the Bitterroot National Forest boundary.

Neighbors spoke in support. Delia Coffin, who identified herself as a 37-year neighbor of Jean Lippert, said: "I look on that Ponderosa Forest that Dylan mentioned, and I see great horned owls and red tailed hawks in there regularly; numerous songbirds in there as well." Other commenters thanked the Land Trust and the landowner for pursuing conservation.

Commissioners moved and seconded the resolution, which was called for the question and passed by unanimous vote of those present. The motion authorizes $79,655 from the Open Lands Bond Program for the Lippert conservation easement; county staff will incorporate deed language and any funding-related restrictions into the final easement instrument prior to closing.

The Land Trust said the Lippert application is well leveraged with NRCS funding at roughly a 50% match. Staff noted the project aligns with the county's natural resource policy and the objectives of the voter-approved open lands bond program adopted in 2006. Final easement terms, including any federal funding restrictions and conveyance language, will be completed in subsequent closing steps.