Conservation easement protects Columbia Falls farmstead

A conservation easement now protects 38.9 acres of land owned by siblings Charles and Diane Taylor, located south of Columbia Falls.

This scenic property is less than a half mile from the Flathead River and 3 miles from the Swan Mountains, according to a press release from the Flathead Land Trust. The farmstead on the west side of the property looks out over a hayfield nestled in the valley to forested slopes on the eastern side of the property with the Swan Mountains in the distance. The hayfield is underlain by rich agricultural soils including “prime farmland” and “soils of statewide importance” as determined by the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The forested slopes of the hill to the east are regularly used by elk, white-tailed deer, and many birds including great-horned owl, wild turkey, and ring-necked pheasant; an occasional black bear, mountain lion, coyote or fox also use the property.

The property has been in the family since 1965 and Charles and Diane wanted it to remain a farm with bird and wildlife habitat in perpetuity.

“My sister and I were thankful to be able to work with Flathead Land Trust in order to place a conservation easement on our land to assure the property will remain agricultural and that the flora and fauna will remain relatively undisturbed into the future,” Charles Taylor said.