prickly pear land trust we run one of the local land Trust’s in the state
the local land Trust’s in the state
the local land Trust’s in the state there are about five of us we operate in
there are about five of us we operate in
there are about five of us we operate in a four county region and we’re kind of
a four county region and we’re kind of
a four county region and we’re kind of in west central Montana one of the
in west central Montana one of the
in west central Montana one of the things we’re most known for is that 75
things we’re most known for is that 75
things we’re most known for is that 75 miles of singletrack trail that we
miles of singletrack trail that we
miles of singletrack trail that we manage and maintain in Helena south
manage and maintain in Helena south
manage and maintain in Helena south hills trail system we also have a pretty
hills trail system we also have a pretty
hills trail system we also have a pretty major private land conservation program
major private land conservation program
major private land conservation program where we work with primarily with
where we work with primarily with
where we work with primarily with ranchers to protect wildlife habitat and
ranchers to protect wildlife habitat and
ranchers to protect wildlife habitat and open space on working farms and ranches
open space on working farms and ranches
open space on working farms and ranches through the use of conservation
through the use of conservation
through the use of conservation easements and then our third program is
easements and then our third program is
easements and then our third program is community conservation and today I’m
community conservation and today I’m
community conservation and today I’m I’ll talk focus mostly on that aspect of
I’ll talk focus mostly on that aspect of
I’ll talk focus mostly on that aspect of what prickly pear land trust does so
what prickly pear land trust does so
what prickly pear land trust does so community conservation is a term that
community conservation is a term that
community conservation is a term that has been fairly new in the conservation
has been fairly new in the conservation
has been fairly new in the conservation community but is one that if you’re a
community but is one that if you’re a
community but is one that if you’re a good conservation organization you’ve
good conservation organization you’ve
good conservation organization you’ve been doing community conservation for a
been doing community conservation for a
been doing community conservation for a long time and it is defined as when a
long time and it is defined as when a
long time and it is defined as when a organization like prickly pear acquires
organization like prickly pear acquires
organization like prickly pear acquires usually it’s through an acquisition
usually it’s through an acquisition
usually it’s through an acquisition acquires a property and in that
acquires a property and in that
acquires a property and in that acquisition er in that project there are
acquisition er in that project there are
acquisition er in that project there are a diverse number of community
a diverse number of community
a diverse number of community stakeholders and user groups who will at
stakeholders and user groups who will at
stakeholders and user groups who will at the end of the project have benefited
the end of the project have benefited
the end of the project have benefited from it in a multitude of different ways
from it in a multitude of different ways
from it in a multitude of different ways about a year ago prickly pear Land Trust
about a year ago prickly pear Land Trust
about a year ago prickly pear Land Trust had a really great project come forward
had a really great project come forward
had a really great project come forward and we weren’t really sure what it was
and we weren’t really sure what it was
and we weren’t really sure what it was going to end up being but what ended up
going to end up being but what ended up
going to end up being but what ended up happening is that we kind of just let it
happening is that we kind of just let it
happening is that we kind of just let it organically develop and we got to know
organically develop and we got to know
organically develop and we got to know our neighbors we acquired two hundred
our neighbors we acquired two hundred
our neighbors we acquired two hundred and five acres in between Fort Harrison
and five acres in between Fort Harrison
and five acres in between Fort Harrison out there on the west side of town and
out there on the west side of town and
out there on the west side of town and the Archie Bray center that you just
the Archie Bray center that you just
the Archie Bray center that you just heard about and then our other neighbor
heard about and then our other neighbor
heard about and then our other neighbor is spring meadow resources who services
is spring meadow resources who services
is spring meadow resources who services folks with developmental disabilities
folks with developmental disabilities
folks with developmental disabilities the property runs also a long ten milk
the property runs also a long ten milk
the property runs also a long ten milk when prickly pear first acquired that
when prickly pear first acquired that
when prickly pear first acquired that property we were really exactly sure
property we were really exactly sure
property we were really exactly sure what what we were going to end up with
what what we were going to end up with
what what we were going to end up with and actually we’re still not completely
and actually we’re still not completely
and actually we’re still not completely sure but we’ve come quite a way in our
sure but we’ve come quite a way in our
sure but we’ve come quite a way in our thinking and and it’s been through the
thinking and and it’s been through the
thinking and and it’s been through the communication that we’ve had with mostly
communication that we’ve had with mostly
communication that we’ve had with mostly our neighbors out there but with other
our neighbors out there but with other
our neighbors out there but with other stakeholders in the community with a
stakeholders in the community with a
stakeholders in the community with a really diverse set of interests and
really diverse set of interests and
really diverse set of interests and backgrounds and needs so the land trust
backgrounds and needs so the land trust
backgrounds and needs so the land trust alliance is the National Association of
alliance is the National Association of
alliance is the National Association of groups like prickly pear Land Trust and
groups like prickly pear Land Trust and
groups like prickly pear Land Trust and they’ve identified this project that we
they’ve identified this project that we
they’ve identified this project that we are calling Peaks two creeks they’ve
are calling Peaks two creeks they’ve
are calling Peaks two creeks they’ve identified it as one of the best
identified it as one of the best
identified it as one of the best examples of community conservation in
examples of community conservation in
examples of community conservation in the nation right here in Helena Montana
the nation right here in Helena Montana
the nation right here in Helena Montana it is because of the diversity in the
it is because of the diversity in the
it is because of the diversity in the user groups and the diverse benefits
user groups and the diverse benefits
user groups and the diverse benefits that that project will bring so close
that that project will bring so close
that that project will bring so close your eyes for a minute and imagine a
your eyes for a minute and imagine a
your eyes for a minute and imagine a retired military leader with PTSD who
retired military leader with PTSD who
retired military leader with PTSD who has been treated at the VA’s hospital
has been treated at the VA’s hospital
has been treated at the VA’s hospital that hospital is the only place where
that hospital is the only place where
that hospital is the only place where that veteran can receive intensive
that veteran can receive intensive
that veteran can receive intensive treatment here in the state of Montana
treatment here in the state of Montana
treatment here in the state of Montana leave a second highest rate of veteran
leave a second highest rate of veteran
leave a second highest rate of veteran PTSD in the entire US and just across
PTSD in the entire US and just across
PTSD in the entire US and just across the street now that veteran can access
the street now that veteran can access
the street now that veteran can access the open space and the outdoors but also
the open space and the outdoors but also
the open space and the outdoors but also the solitude of the creek of 10 Mile
the solitude of the creek of 10 Mile
the solitude of the creek of 10 Mile Creek the doctors at the VA are now
Creek the doctors at the VA are now
Creek the doctors at the VA are now saying that having access to the
saying that having access to the
saying that having access to the outdoors is one of the key factors in a
outdoors is one of the key factors in a
outdoors is one of the key factors in a veteran’s ultimate success rate in
veteran’s ultimate success rate in
veteran’s ultimate success rate in dealing with something like PTSD the
dealing with something like PTSD the
dealing with something like PTSD the same thing applies for some of the other
same thing applies for some of the other
same thing applies for some of the other ailments that that face vets so there’s
ailments that that face vets so there’s
ailments that that face vets so there’s one person and then standing next to
one person and then standing next to
one person and then standing next to that veteran is a new recruit soldier
that veteran is a new recruit soldier
that veteran is a new recruit soldier who’s training to be deployed for the
who’s training to be deployed for the
who’s training to be deployed for the first time and she gets to do her PT
first time and she gets to do her PT
first time and she gets to do her PT exercises now right across william
exercises now right across william
exercises now right across william street in the big open field there next
street in the big open field there next
street in the big open field there next to the archie bray and 10 mile creek to
to the archie bray and 10 mile creek to
to the archie bray and 10 mile creek to run her two mile loop that she does
run her two mile loop that she does
run her two mile loop that she does every day standing next to her is a
every day standing next to her is a
every day standing next to her is a ceramic artist from the Archie Bray
ceramic artist from the Archie Bray
ceramic artist from the Archie Bray who might use that space as inspiration
who might use that space as inspiration
who might use that space as inspiration for the art that he or she does and
for the art that he or she does and
for the art that he or she does and standing next to the ceramic artist is a
standing next to the ceramic artist is a
standing next to the ceramic artist is a single mom with two kids who likes to go
single mom with two kids who likes to go
single mom with two kids who likes to go to spring meadow lake state park say and
to spring meadow lake state park say and
to spring meadow lake state park say and she goes there because it’s a great
she goes there because it’s a great
she goes there because it’s a great place where she can push the stroller on
place where she can push the stroller on
place where she can push the stroller on the flatter trails it’s also a state
the flatter trails it’s also a state
the flatter trails it’s also a state park so that the admission is free and
park so that the admission is free and
park so that the admission is free and it’s close to our house now imagine
it’s close to our house now imagine
it’s close to our house now imagine standing next to that person is an
standing next to that person is an
standing next to that person is an individual with developmental
individual with developmental
individual with developmental disabilities who lives at spring meadow
disabilities who lives at spring meadow
disabilities who lives at spring meadow resources which is the facility right
resources which is the facility right
resources which is the facility right next to Montana wild and George is
next to Montana wild and George is
next to Montana wild and George is distributing that is the place where a
distributing that is the place where a
distributing that is the place where a lot of the folks who work at Helen
lot of the folks who work at Helen
lot of the folks who work at Helen industries live and then standing next
industries live and then standing next
industries live and then standing next to that person is a conservationist like
to that person is a conservationist like
to that person is a conservationist like myself who’s excited about that
myself who’s excited about that
myself who’s excited about that acquisition because it will give the
acquisition because it will give the
acquisition because it will give the community the opportunity to have an
community the opportunity to have an
community the opportunity to have an education and an access to 10 Mile Creek
education and an access to 10 Mile Creek
education and an access to 10 Mile Creek but also additional open space and once
but also additional open space and once
but also additional open space and once we’re completed with some of the the
we’re completed with some of the the
we’re completed with some of the the trail work out there a bridge over 10
trail work out there a bridge over 10
trail work out there a bridge over 10 mile and some new trails that connect to
mile and some new trails that connect to
mile and some new trails that connect to the VA that picture of those people
the VA that picture of those people
the VA that picture of those people standing next to one another that is
standing next to one another that is
standing next to one another that is exactly what community conservation
exactly what community conservation
exactly what community conservation means it means that when an organization
means it means that when an organization
means it means that when an organization achieves the conservation objective that
achieves the conservation objective that
achieves the conservation objective that that’s really great but it means a lot
that’s really great but it means a lot
that’s really great but it means a lot more for the community if there are
more for the community if there are
more for the community if there are diverse interests standing next to one
diverse interests standing next to one
diverse interests standing next to one another who also see other benefits and
another who also see other benefits and
another who also see other benefits and that and that project also brings other
that and that project also brings other
that and that project also brings other benefits to the community those projects
benefits to the community those projects
benefits to the community those projects strengthen communities in ways that are
strengthen communities in ways that are
strengthen communities in ways that are so much beyond what we would achieve if
so much beyond what we would achieve if
so much beyond what we would achieve if we were just singularly focused on our
we were just singularly focused on our
we were just singularly focused on our own needs or our own interests there are
own needs or our own interests there are
own needs or our own interests there are a lot of great examples of this
a lot of great examples of this
a lot of great examples of this throughout the state of Montana but
throughout the state of Montana but
throughout the state of Montana but again that one is is unique and it
again that one is is unique and it
again that one is is unique and it wasn’t that we planned it because of
wasn’t that we planned it because of
wasn’t that we planned it because of those diverse interests that are located
those diverse interests that are located
those diverse interests that are located around
around
around property if I was looking for community
property if I was looking for community
property if I was looking for community conservation projects now that would be
conservation projects now that would be
conservation projects now that would be a great place to go but it just sort of
a great place to go but it just sort of
a great place to go but it just sort of happened to come together the way that
happened to come together the way that
happened to come together the way that it has and that was about a year ago and
it has and that was about a year ago and
it has and that was about a year ago and we acquired that property and since then
we acquired that property and since then
we acquired that property and since then we spent quite a bit of time with people
we spent quite a bit of time with people
we spent quite a bit of time with people like Steve at the Archie Bray and
like Steve at the Archie Bray and
like Steve at the Archie Bray and doctors from the VA trying to figure out
doctors from the VA trying to figure out
doctors from the VA trying to figure out how we can make it the most accessible
how we can make it the most accessible
how we can make it the most accessible and the best for whatever those other
and the best for whatever those other
and the best for whatever those other community interests and needs are so
community interests and needs are so
community interests and needs are so that’s that’s one example of community
that’s that’s one example of community
that’s that’s one example of community conservation I’m going to break for a
conservation I’m going to break for a
conservation I’m going to break for a second just to talk about why community
second just to talk about why community
second just to talk about why community conservation matters so much beyond just
conservation matters so much beyond just
conservation matters so much beyond just the obvious reasons of bringing a
the obvious reasons of bringing a
the obvious reasons of bringing a diverse amount of benefit to a community
diverse amount of benefit to a community
diverse amount of benefit to a community for the strengthening in the Alliance
for the strengthening in the Alliance
for the strengthening in the Alliance building that that does for anything
building that that does for anything
building that that does for anything really for any industry or any you know
really for any industry or any you know
really for any industry or any you know doesn’t really matter what you do but
doesn’t really matter what you do but
doesn’t really matter what you do but for for conservation if we’re going to
for for conservation if we’re going to
for for conservation if we’re going to be relevant on into the future we need
be relevant on into the future we need
be relevant on into the future we need to look more like and address the needs
to look more like and address the needs
to look more like and address the needs of what the future is and when I think
of what the future is and when I think
of what the future is and when I think about what it’s going to take for my
about what it’s going to take for my
about what it’s going to take for my kids to stand up and make sure that they
kids to stand up and make sure that they
kids to stand up and make sure that they do their part to make sure that
do their part to make sure that
do their part to make sure that conservation and open space and things
conservation and open space and things
conservation and open space and things like trails are available on into the
like trails are available on into the
like trails are available on into the future it’s it’s we have to be relevant
future it’s it’s we have to be relevant
future it’s it’s we have to be relevant and in order for us to be relevant we
and in order for us to be relevant we
and in order for us to be relevant we have to make sure that that we are
have to make sure that that we are
have to make sure that that we are appealing to the things that are going
appealing to the things that are going
appealing to the things that are going to be important for future generations
to be important for future generations
to be important for future generations in that project the one of the examples
in that project the one of the examples
in that project the one of the examples it really jumps out is at me as having
it really jumps out is at me as having
it really jumps out is at me as having access to 10 Mile Creek Ten Mile Creek
access to 10 Mile Creek Ten Mile Creek
access to 10 Mile Creek Ten Mile Creek is our community’s water source and that
is our community’s water source and that
is our community’s water source and that property will now provide the only
property will now provide the only
property will now provide the only access to it in the entire urban
access to it in the entire urban
access to it in the entire urban boundary that’s going to be a really
boundary that’s going to be a really
boundary that’s going to be a really really important thing as we start to
really important thing as we start to
really important thing as we start to see more and more challenges to things
see more and more challenges to things
see more and more challenges to things like water quantity and quality on into
like water quantity and quality on into
like water quantity and quality on into the future and it’s you know the the
the future and it’s you know the the
the future and it’s you know the the basic benefits of just the conservation
basic benefits of just the conservation
basic benefits of just the conservation education opportunity are great and
education opportunity are great and
education opportunity are great and obvious but those are the things that
obvious but those are the things that
obvious but those are the things that make community conservation for for me
make community conservation for for me
make community conservation for for me when I think about conservation three
when I think about conservation three
when I think about conservation three for generations from now it’ll mean a
for generations from now it’ll mean a
for generations from now it’ll mean a lot more to to my daughter and to her
lot more to to my daughter and to her
lot more to to my daughter and to her kids if we’re making sure that we’re
kids if we’re making sure that we’re
kids if we’re making sure that we’re relevant and that we mean something to
relevant and that we mean something to
relevant and that we mean something to everybody and you know luckily in
everybody and you know luckily in
everybody and you know luckily in Montana we community and conservation
Montana we community and conservation
Montana we community and conservation kind of balance the things that most
kind of balance the things that most
kind of balance the things that most people here can relate to most people
people here can relate to most people
people here can relate to most people value their community they’ve out and
value their community they’ve out and
value their community they’ve out and that can be defined in a number of ways
that can be defined in a number of ways
that can be defined in a number of ways obviously but they value their community
obviously but they value their community
obviously but they value their community they also value conservation whether
they also value conservation whether
they also value conservation whether they call it conservation or not they
they call it conservation or not they
they call it conservation or not they value the land in the water and the
value the land in the water and the
value the land in the water and the mountains and the trails and the things
mountains and the trails and the things
mountains and the trails and the things that that we that improve our quality of
that that we that improve our quality of
that that we that improve our quality of life by by living here and so it’s this
life by by living here and so it’s this
life by by living here and so it’s this this topic is one that I am really
this topic is one that I am really
this topic is one that I am really getting more and more excited about and
getting more and more excited about and
getting more and more excited about and and really appreciate the opportunity to
and really appreciate the opportunity to
and really appreciate the opportunity to be here today again and and visiting
be here today again and and visiting
be here today again and and visiting with you also thank you so much
”
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