Ruby Habitat Foundation

THE RUBY HABITAT FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MAKEUP OF THE RUBY VALLEY AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. SEE STATEMENT OF DETAILED MISSION GOALS ATTACHED.

EARLY IN 2011 THE FOUNDATION WAS GIFTED THE WOODSON RANCH PROPERTY. CONSISTENT WITH THE MISSION AND GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION, WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE RANCH FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, RAISING HAY AND GRAZING CATTLE. HAY AND PASTURE ARE SOLD TO GENERATE INCOME. WE ALSO MANAGE THE PROPERTY FOR WILDLIFE AND RECREATIONAL VALUES. RANCH OPERATIONAL EXPENSES EXCEED THE INCOME REALIZED FROM THE SALE OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES DUE TO THE DONOR'S INTENTION TO PROVIDE FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE RANCH DONOR ALSO CREATED AN ENDOWMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE SHORTFALL IN AGRICULTURAL INCOME.

PRACTICAL RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS CONTINUE ON THE PROPERTY TO DEMONSTRATE ECONOMIC VIABILITY, AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY AND THE COEXISTENCE OF AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS AND WILDLIFE VALUES. INNOVATIVE PRACTICES ARE CONDUCTED, SUCH AS THE PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE OF A SOIL HEALTH PROJECT TO COMPARE TRADITIONAL TILLAGE PRACTICES WITH NO-TILL PRACTICES FOR A VARIETY OF PLANT COMMUNITIES AND THEIR AFFECT ON LONG-TERM SOIL HEALTH. A FERTILIZER TRIAL WAS CONDUCTED ON A SMALL PARCEL TO COMPARE THE EFFECT OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER TO ORGANIC MICROBIAL ADDITIVES AND A CONTROL PLOT WITH NO FERTILIZER. WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLLINATOR PLOTS AND THE CREATION OF PERENNIAL WILDLIFE FOOD PLOTS. A VARIETY OF WETLAND ENHANCEMENTS HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND PROVIDE WILDLIFE HABITAT. WE HAVE INITIATED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEMONSTRATION APPLE ORCHARD USING MULTIPLE HERITAGE APPLE VARIETIES.

TOURS AND PRESENTATIONS OF ONGOING PROJECTS WERE CONDUCTED ON THE FOUNDATION PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, INCLUDING NUMEROUS PERSONAL TOURS FOR SMALL GROUPS OF 1-4 INDIVIDUALS TO DESCRIBE SPECIFIC CONSERVATION PRACTICES. NO LARGE OUTREACH TOURS WERE CONDUCTED FOR STUDENTS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS OR OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN 2021. IN SPITE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS, OVER 1600 PEOPLE STILL CAME TO THE RANCH, OBSERVING COVID PRECATUIONS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, FOR A DIVERSE ARRAY OF EXPERIENCES. APPROXIMATELY ONE-FOURTH OF OUR GUESTS CAME TO THE RANCH TO FLY FISH AND VIEW THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN PLACE.

THE CLEAR CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT WAS STARTED IN 2017. THIS EXTENSIVE MULTI-YEAR WETLAND ENHANCEMENT, WATER CONSERVATION AND STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND PROVIDE WILDLIFE HABITAT ALONG THE BANKS AND ADJACENT TO CLEAR CREEK ON THE RHF PROPERTY. A USDA WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENT AND NEW WATER SAVING IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE WERE PUT IN PLACE THROUGH THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN 2021 AND TOTAL COST WAS 917,111.