Willow Ranch owners, committee back round-one conservation recommendation amid access and grazing discussion

The Cache Open Space Advisory Committee voted June 1 to recommend that the county council advance the Willow Ranch conservation-easement application to round two.

Lisa, open-space staff, summarized the property as two parcels at the eastern foothills of the Wellsville Range with a family ownership stretching more than 150 years. She said the application was coordinated with the Utah Agricultural Land Trust and that seven reviewers produced an average score of about 58 (406/700).

An applicant identified in discussion as Kent (referred to in the packet as the property owner) told the committee there is a historic proprietary right-of-way connecting the southwest corner of his parcel to national-forest land and described existing improvements: fenced boundaries, water tanks and a spring development to support grazing and wildlife. He said the owners hope to preserve the land ‘‘for the benefit of posterity’’ and that grazing was proposed in part to improve soil health, consistent with NRCS recommendations.

Committee members pressed on access and trail implications, asking whether an easement could prohibit future trail corridors such as the Bonavville Shoreline Trail. Members and staff agreed easement language can be drafted to avoid forbidding future trail connections if desired.

After discussion a motion to forward the application to the county council for round-two consideration was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript. Staff invited the owners to attend the council presentation and said staff would present the parcel and supporting details.

Next steps: staff will prepare a phase-two package for council review that will include more detailed access language and funding particulars.