The Ravalli County Board of County Commissioners voted June 5 to approve Resolution 4709, authorizing $97,000 in open lands bond proceeds toward the Rory R Ranch Victor Conservation Easement, a proposed conservation restriction on 193.2 acres northwest of Victor.

The easement application, submitted by Rory R Ranch LLC and sponsored by the Bitterroot Land Trust, is intended to protect working agricultural land, riparian areas and wildlife habitat while preserving scenic open space and existing water rights from Sweat House Creek and the Blake High Line Ditch.

The project covers two legal parcels totaling 193.2 acres. County staff and the Bitterroot Land Trust told the commissioners that about 109 acres have soils identified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service as agriculturally important, including about 48 acres of soils of statewide importance. Presentations described two on-site riparian stream segments, a historic Macintosh apple orchard of roughly three acres, and a single 1.93-acre building envelope around the existing residence and outbuildings.

Bitterroot Land Trust lands director Melissa O'Dell said the easement would keep the property intact and prevent future splits. "They wish to conserve their property for its open space values, wildlife habitat, ag resources," she told the commissioners during the public hearing.

The staff report and Land Trust materials listed multiple species that use the property or its riparian zones, including several bat species, great blue heron, bald eagle, golden eagle, bobolink, Lewis's woodpecker, pileated woodpecker and western toad. Presenters noted the ranch is contiguous with other conserved lands and is less than half a mile from the Bitterroot National Forest.

The Open Lands Board reviewed the application on March 20, 2025, and recommended the project for funding. The board's scoring worksheet showed scores ranging from 59 to 71 with an average of 65 points. The Open Lands Board's recommendation to the commissioners was unanimous, recorded in the staff report as 9–0.

Neighbors and the landowners spoke in support during public comment. Christina Ragsdale, who identified herself as a fence-line neighbor and owner of Little Smith Creek Ranch, said, "We strongly support it," noting shared elk use among nearby properties. Owner Gary Beetle told the commissioners: "The three real reasons that Rob and I wanna conserve this property is, first of all, it's it's open space legacy ... secure the agricultural future of the property ... and preserve the wildlife habitat that we get to experience frequently throughout the year." The Bitterroot Land Trust and landowners thanked Ravalli County voters and staff for the open lands bond program and the review process.

Commissioners moved and seconded the resolution as presented. The board called the question and recorded unanimous approval of Resolution 4709; the motion carried (vote recorded as unanimous among the commissioners present). The resolution approves the $97,000 expenditure "subject to certain conditions," as stated in the motion and staff report; those conditions and deed language will be reflected in the conservation easement instrument and the closing documents.

The Land Trust indicated the project is highly leveraged with National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding from a Grasslands of Special Significance funding pool that provides a 75% match and includes additional deed restrictions required by that federal funding. County staff and presenters said those NRCS restrictions will be incorporated into the conservation easement deed where applicable.

The commission's action establishes county authorization for the expenditure; the conservation easement will be finalized in later closing steps that implement the deed restrictions, NRCS requirements and any county conditions identified at approval.