Inland Northwest Land Trust

CONSERVATION OF CLEAN WATER, WILDLIFE HABITAT, FORESTS AND FARMS.

OVER THE LAST 30+ YEARS, INLAND NORTHWEST LAND CONSERVANCY HAS WORKED TO CONSERVE, CARE FOR, AND CONNECT WITH LANDS AND WATERS ESSENTIAL TO LIFE IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST. INLC ENVISIONS A FUTURE OF INTERCONNECTED NATURAL HABITATS THROUGHOUT THE INLAND NORTHWEST, SUPPORTING THRIVING POPULATIONS OF NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDLIFE, RESPECTED, AND ENJOYED BY ALL WHO CALL THIS REGION HOME. THE CONSERVANCY HAS PROTECTED OVER 23,000 ACRES, INCLUDING 9,000 ACRES OF PARTNER PROJECTS, 365 ACRES OF PRESERVE LAND, 14,487 ACRES OF PRIVATE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, AND 125 MILES OF PROTECTED WATERWAYS. IN 2022, THE TEAM PROTECTED 11 NEW PROPERTIES. THESE NEWLY PROTECTED PLACES REPRESENT 1,400 ACRES OF WORKING FORESTS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND PUBLIC OUTDOOR SPACES.DURING THE YEAR, THE CONSERVANCY COMPLETED THE RIMROCK TO RIVERSIDE PROJECT, SECURING AND TRANSFERRING INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP LAND LOCATED BETWEEN RIVERSIDE STATE PARK AND PALISADES PARK. THIS CONNECTION OPENS AN 11-MILE PROTECTED WILDLIFE AND RECREATION CORRIDOR ON SPOKANE'S WEST SIDE. THE 150-ACRE AREA PROVIDES HOMES FOR MOOSE, COYOTES, EAGLES, HAWKS, AND MANY OTHER ICONIC SPECIES OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST. WITH BASALT CLIFFS AND MIMA MOUNDS, IT ALSO BOASTS SWEEPING VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN SPOKANE AND BEYOND. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS OF SPOKANE AND AIRWAY HEIGHTS LIVE WITHIN SEVERAL MILES OF THIS BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SPACE THAT IS NOW PROTECTED FOREVER. VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED A STACKED LOOP TRAIL SYSTEM AT OUR WAIKIKI SPRINGS NATURE PRESERVE, A POPULAR HIKING AREA FOR THOUSANDS OF USERS ON SPOKANE'S NORTH SIDE. STAFF ALSO PARTNERED WITH GARCO CONSTRUCTION TO REWIDEN A BRIDGE OVER THE LITTLE SPOKANE RIVERPART OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FOREST HEALTH MANAGEMENT, WILDFIRE MITIGATION, AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS IN THE FUTURE.AT THE END OF 2022, THE CONSERVANCY COMPLETED TWO LAND AGREEMENTS ON LAKE PEND OREILLE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NAVY'S REPI PROGRAM. ONE PIECE OF PRIVATE LAND IS PROTECTED, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRETY OF CAMP STIDWELL, A KIWANIS CAMPGROUND ON MIRROR LAKE (ADJACENT TO LAKE PEND OREILLE) THAT HOSTED 8,400 "USER DAYS" IN 2022. THIS AGREEMENT ENSURES THAT THE CAMP WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR THE YOUTH OF NORTH IDAHO TO EXPERIENCE AND FALL IN LOVE WITH NATURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. STAFF VISITED ALL 72 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO FULFILL ANNUAL MONITORING REQUIREMENTS. WHILE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC INTERRUPTED MANY OF THE USUAL WAYS THE CONSERVANCY WOULD ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY WITH LOCAL LANDS AND WATERS, STAFF WORKED WITH 453 VOLUNTEERS TO PRESERVE LANDS, FACILITATED 1,781 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK, AND OVERSAW 72 VOLUNTEER LAND STEWARDS WHO CARE FOR AND MONITOR LANDS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE REGION. WITH 575 ACTIVE DONORS AND 454 VOLUNTEERS, THE CONSERVANCY COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY AND AGENCY PARTNERS TO PROTECT NEW LANDS FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND SECURED CRITICAL LAND IN CONNECTING CORRIDORS THROUGHOUT THE INLAND NORTHWEST REGION. THE SUCCESS OF THIS YEAR HAS BUILT A PLATFORM WITH WHICH THE CONSERVANCY CAN SCALE UP CONSERVATION EFFORTS, BATTLING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUILDING HEALTHY, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OUTDOORS.