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NRCS approves federal funding for Elkhorn Ranch; county, state and private matches in place
Summary
County staff reported that an NRCS application for Elkhorn Ranch was approved and federally funded (nearly $2 million). The county previously committed $1.25 million by resolution and received ~ $250,000 from the Lee Ray McAllister Fund; staff described due diligence and next steps for a multi‑party conservation easement.
County staff updated the Cache County Open Space Advisory Committee on the status of a conservation project for Elkhorn Ranch, saying a National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) application has completed state and federal review and is approved for federal funding. The presenter stated the NRCS commitment remains in place and has not been rescinded.
The committee was reminded that Cache County previously approved $1,250,000 for the project by county resolution and that staff secured about $250,000 from the Lee Ray McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund. The presenter said the NRCS contribution is “just under $2,000,000,” representing nearly 48% of the project’s estimated cost, and that the county share does not have to change at this time. He cautioned that a forthcoming appraisal could alter final costs and require renegotiation of commitments.
Staff described concurrent due diligence underway: title reports, environmental and hazardous-material surveys, mineral inquiries and surveys, plus drafting a conservation-easement deed. The presenter emphasized that the deed is a multiparty document being drafted to meet the county’s open-space bond requirements, NRCS rules, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) conditions, Fairwood Land Conservancy preferences, and the landowner’s expectations. Once the parties agree, staff will submit the deed to NRCS and then pursue appraisal and related steps.
Matt Coombs, identifying himself as conservation director of Fairwood Land Conservancy/State Forest Land Trust, added that amendment clauses are typically difficult: multiple partners, federal‑funding conditions and IRS rules tied to donated easements complicate later changes. Committee members asked how to avoid repeated federal re‑reviews if county edits the deed; staff said they rely on previously NRCS‑compliant templates to minimize rework.
The presenter also warned that state staffing reductions and lower program funding have slowed reviews and make future federal match funding uncertain. Committee members discussed project competitiveness: large projects often score higher on conservation value for state and federal programs, while smaller parcels frequently receive only local interest.
The committee briefly discussed outreach: staff are planning an application assistance workshop in the coming weeks to help landowners navigate requirements and application windows.
What happens next: staff will continue deed negotiations with the landowner, submit the finalized deed for county legal review and to NRCS, then move toward appraisal and final funding commitments. The committee did not take formal action during the update.
