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Trustee presents preliminary Alder Farm riparian conservation plan tied to UDOT project
Summary
Kathleen Alder, trustee for the Seth Alder property, presented a preliminary request to conserve a river corridor adjacent to the Blacksmith Fork River; she said an associated UDOT grant 'is $4,000,000' and that she will return with conservation appraisals and a more detailed proposal.
Kathleen Alder, the trustee for the Seth Alder property, told the Cache County Open Space Advisory Committee on Feb. 3 that she intends to pursue conservation of the river corridor along the Blacksmith Fork River while allowing development on non‑river parcels. Alder said she has ordered an appraisal and expects to return to the committee with a formal recommendation when valuation and scope are clarified.
Alder said the parcel sits across the river from other landowners and that at least one neighbor, Roger Dally (Blackstone), is “totally on board” to conserve land on his side of the river as well. She described the area as ecologically rich — naming sandhill cranes and raptors — and said trail access and wetlands mitigation are part of the concept. “With this UDOT grant, it's $4,000,000 that will go along there,” Alder said when introducing the project; she and staff framed that grant as a potential construction partner for trail infrastructure while acquisition or easement decisions remain with the landowners and COSAC.
Committee members discussed whether the owner should submit a trails application or a standard open‑space easement application. Staff advised that a trails application typically funds construction while open‑space funding is intended to buy or protect land itself; committee members noted that a broader conservation corridor (estimates discussed ranged from ~20 feet to as much as 100 feet or the entire river corridor and bank) would likely require additional mitigation and funding sources (NRCS and others) because much of the land discussed lies in the 100‑year floodplain.
The committee and applicant discussed group applications and multi‑owner easement coordination. Staff said it is possible to submit a single project packet that delineates individual ownership and separate easement instruments; Alder said she and nearby owners are willing to coordinate to present a unified package. Alder said she will pursue a conservation appraisal specialized for easements and return with details.
The committee did not take a formal vote on the proposal at this meeting. Staff characterized the presentation as preliminary and said a staff report and application materials would be required for committee action at a future meeting.
