— By The Jill Perelman Family, Blackfoot Valley Landowners
The Perelman family completed the donation of a 680-acre conservation easement on their Blackfoot Valley property in late 2000.  They placed an easement on an additional 77 acres in 2003.  FVLT and other partners have been actively working on a stream restoration project on the property.

The land our family recently acquired is a mix of forested slope, wetland meadow, creekside riparian zones, native range and hay field. It lies in the shadow of peaks along the southern edge of the Scapegoat Wilderness with national forest, private timber, and ranch land as neighbors.

We have each spent considerable time outdoors for work, recreation, pleasure, solace and various combinations thereof. Already, family members have watched sandhill cranes, bear, coyote, deer, elk, eagles and turkeys on the property. We hope to someday see and hear wolves which are rumored to be in the vicinity.

For us, ownership of land like this is both a privilege and an enormous responsibility. Because this land is an important component of the north fork of the Blackfoot drainage, we are excited to become active participants in the efforts to improve the fishery. As we learn and spend more time on the land, we will engage in restorative work including significant changes in some agricultural practices.

Through the writing of an easement, we will do away with an a plotted subdivision on the property and eliminate any possible developments in the future. Even if this land were to fall out of our hands or those of our children we would be proud of having taken this step to ensure that the landscape will remain much as it is today.

Though still in the early stages of writing our easement, we are already very grateful for the readily available assistance, guidance, contacts, and professionalism of everyone at Five Valleys Land Trust. We are especially appreciative of working with friends and neighbors.