Gallatin Valley Land Trust

GALLATIN VALLEY LAND TRUST CONNECTS PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND OPEN LANDS THROUGH CONSERVATION OF WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES, HEALTHY RIVERS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND THE CREATION OF TRAILS IN THE MONTANA HEADWATERS OF THE MISSOURI AND UPPER YELLOWSTONE RIVERS.

LAND CONSERVATION GVLT FURTHERED ITS MISSION TO CONSERVE WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND RIVER CORRIDORS. WE IDENTIFY STRATEGIC AREAS WITH HIGH CONSERVATION VALUES TO CONSERVE BLOCKS OF OPEN LAND THAT PROTECT SPECIAL PARTS OF THE REGION. WE HOLD 122 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS COVERING 52,252 ACRES. OUR STAFF DEVELOP LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDOWNERS AND VISIT EACH CONSERVATION EASEMENT ANNUALLY TO MONITOR THEIR CONDITION AND PARTNER WITH LANDOWNERS ON RESTORATION PROJECTS TO IMPROVE ERODING STREAMBANKS, PLANT VEGETATION, AND ENHANCE FLOODPLAINS. IN FY22 WE CONSERVED 1,730 ACRES OF LAND IN THE GOOCH HILL, CHURCHILL, NORTH BRIDGER MOUNTAINS, AND BIG SKY AREAS. WE ALSO PURCHASED A .6 MILE EASEMENT ALONG THE BRIDGER MOUNTAINS RIDGELINE TO FOREVER PROTECT PUBLIC ACCESS ALONG THE NATIONALLY CELEBRATED BRIDGER RIDGE TRAIL.

COMMUNITY TRAILS GVLT CONNECTS PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND THE LAND THROUGH COLLABORATIVE TRAIL PROJECTS. WE COMPLETED THE WELLNESS TRAIL IN THE HIGHLAND GLEN NATURE PRESERVE, CONNECTING TRAILS TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MENTAL HEALTH CENTER; BUILT A KEY SAFETY CONNECTION ON THE NORTH EAST SIDE OF BOZEMAN, CONNECTING DOWNTOWN TO WESTERN NEIGHBORHOODS; AND ACQUIRED 12 ACRES AT THE SOUTH END OF BURKE PARK (PEETS HILL). GVLT WORKED WITH THE CITY AND 700 DONORS TO QUICKLY RAISE THE FUNDS TO ADD THE LAND TO THE EXISTING PARK AND FOREVER PROVIDE PUBLIC RECREATION AND SCENIC VIEWS OF OUR VALLEY. STAFF AND 32 VOLUNTEER GROUPS MAINTAINED TRAILS AT DRINKING HORSE, TRIPLE TREE, PAINTED HILLS, HIGHLAND GLEN NATURE PRESERVE, SOURDOUGH TRAIL, KIRK HILL, AND BRIDGER RIDGE TRAIL. WE PARTNERED WITH OTHER RECREATION GROUPS ON AN OUTSIDE KIND CAMPAIGN TO SHARE MESSAGES ABOUT CONSIDERATE OUTDOOR BEHAVIOR.

EDUCATION GVLT HOSTED 667 VOLUNTEERS FOR 2,308 HOURS OF SERVICE AND EDUCATED THEM ALL ON GVLTS MISSION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. GVLT BROUGHT THE TRAILS TO LIFE WITH FAMILIES THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH RANDOM ACTS OF SILLINESS ON THE FAIRY VILLAGE. THE SUMMER TRAILS CHALLENGE ENGAGED THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXPLORE THE TRAILS AND LOG 90,383 MILES OF TRAIL USE IN FOUR WEEKS. GVLT SHARES MONTHLY NEWS WITH OVER 18,000 SUPPORTERS ON COMMUNITY TRAILS, PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION, AND RELATED PUBLIC EVENTS. GVLT PUBLISHES AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, IRS FORM 990, AND AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE WEBSITE. THE 21 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ON THE NEXTGEN ADVISORY BOARD EDUCATE AND INSPIRE THEIR PEERS TO VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT GVLT. WE JOINED LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING EFFORTS TO HIGHLIGHT TRAIL SYSTEMS AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION.