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Open Lands Board backs $1 million recommendation for Holmes Family dairy easement, asks for water-rights clarity
Summary
The board gave a unanimous positive recommendation to forward a $1,000,000 funding request to county council for the Holmes Family Dairy (GH Squared) conservation easement, while requiring standard conditions and further verification of water interests and final funding matches.
The Wasatch County Open Lands Board voted unanimously to recommend the Holmes Family Dairy (GH Squared) conservation-easement application to the county council with a request for up to $1,000,000 in county open-space bond funds.
Presenters told the board the Holmes property has been in the family since 1946, contains a high percentage of prime soils, and supports rotational grazing for more than 100 head of cattle on productive pastures. Staff described the easement area under consideration as roughly 52 acres within a larger family operation and noted the parcel is zoned RA-1. The application lists a 25 percent landowner donation; application materials provided by staff list a project valuation consistent with that percentage (the documentation shows a landowner-donation figure referenced in the file).
Funding and timing: land-conservation staff and the applicant discussed multiple federal and private funding sources being pursued to match county bond funds. The presenter described a substantial federal funding application (RCPP/NRCS), and also discussed other potential sources; the presenter initially said some NRCS funding had been approved and later clarified that funding decisions for the dairy component remain pending as part of the NRCS process. The board and staff noted county practice typically requires other match funding to be in hand before county open-space bond money is committed.
Project details and conditions: staff told the board the proposed easement would reserve a limited number of current residential building envelopes (two 2–3-acre envelopes were described) so the family can continue intergenerational farming. The presenter said the parcel includes multiple water sources (Lake Creek irrigation, temporary supplemental water, and private leased storage) and estimated water needs for the easement area at about 156 acre-feet; staff emphasized they will verify which water shares/rights are encumbered and how leased shares would be handled in the easement language.
Public comment included brief statements of support from valley residents. Board members asked for and received confirmation that the application otherwise meets the county code criteria for open-space funding; the board asked staff to require the standard conditions (appraisal, title, conservation-easement review by county counsel and confirmation of funding matches and water documentation) when forwarding the recommendation.
The motion recommending up to $1,000,000 for the GH Squared/Holmes Family Dairy easement passed 6-0. Staff will prepare recommendation language and required packet materials for the county-council public meeting.
