In August 2025, the Anderson family of Paradise Valley, Montana, finalized a permanent conservation easement that will prevent subdivision of their 884‑acre ranch.
The easement, signed with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, locks the land into a single agricultural unit.
Bob Anderson, who inherited the property in 1980, says the decision was driven by a desire to keep the farm intact against growing development pressure. The ranch sits on 1.5 miles of Trail Creek that supports elk, pronghorn, bears, sandhill cranes and dozens of bird species. Adjacent to private and US Forest Service lands, the property forms part of a broader corridor that protects wildlife movement and water quality in the Upper Yellowstone watershed. Local rancher Mira Patel, who farms on a neighboring plot, says the easement will keep the view intact.
Northern Yellowstone Open Lands, a regional arm of the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, helped negotiate the easement, while a private donation matched the Andersons’ contribution.
The family pledged a substantial portion of the ranch’s value, and the trust secured matching funds from philanthropic partners. As a result, the easement prohibits subdivision, ensuring the land remains available for hay, cattle, and ongoing conservation of Trail Creek.
USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program will now oversee compliance, and the easement is expected to serve as a model for other rural farms seeking long‑term protection.