2024-11-11T11:49:25-08:00 2023-12-31 810390489 Boyle Deveny & Meyer PC 305 South 4th East Suite 200 Missoula MT 59801 990 2023-01-01 311595967 BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST BITT 4063750956 PO BOX 1806 HAMILTON MT 59840 Lauren Rennaker Executive Dir. 2024-11-11 true true Jaime Ward CPA P00441760 4067213555 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z Lauren Rennaker 1308745 false X WWW.BITTERROOTLANDTRUST.ORG X 1997 MT BRLT PARTNERS WITH LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO CONSERVE the WATER, WILDLIFE, AND WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES IN MONTANA'S BITTERROOT VALLEY FOR all GENERATIONS, utilizing conservation easements, fee purchases, and proactive land stewardship. 14 14 11 120 0 1341434 1238946 0 187988 34306 3840 17536 1533262 1290788 0 0 649623 746419 0 108148 389494 392038 1039117 1138457 494145 152331 3058260 3331407 491033 515716 2567227 2815691 BRLT PARTNERS WITH LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO CONSERVE the WATER, WILDLIFE, AND WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES IN MONTANA'S BITTERROOT VALLEY FOR all GENERATIONS, utilizing conservation easements, fee purchases, and proactive land stewardship. false false 855989 IN 2023, BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST CONTINUED BUILDING A LASTING CONSERVATION LEGACY INTHE BITTERROOT VALLEY BY PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY TOCONSERVE IMPORTANT FARM AND RANCHLAND, WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES HABITAT, SCENIC OPENSPACE, AND PUBLIC RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THESE CONSERVATION VICTORIESPROTECTED OVER 969 ACRES FROM STEVENSVILLE TO VICTOR AND PRESERVED A DIVERSE SUITEOF COMMUNITY AND NATURAL BENEFITS, INCLUDING PRIME AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND HABITATFOR ELK AND MULE DEER." SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. 855989 true true false false false false true true false true true false false false true false true false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 12 0 true 11 true false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 14 14 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true false true true true false X X BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST 4063750956 170 S SECOND ST STE B HAMILTON MT 59840 GAVIN RICKLEFS Executive Dir. 40.00 0.00 X 125529 0 0 JEAN STEELE Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 LYNN THURBER Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL BRADT Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN ORMISTON Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 MORGAN WEBER Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 TORI NOBLES Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 HEATHER MENNING Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 ROGER GANTZ Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 KATHIE MESSER Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 SARI KERSLAKE Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 ANDREW MASSIE Treasurer 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 TONIA BLOOM Secretary 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 MEGHAN HANSON Vice President 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 BRET YOUNG President 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 125529 1 false false false 0 126404 1112542 122709 1238946 0 34306 34306 0 0 0 0 35493 17957 17536 17536 0 0 0 1290788 51842 0 0 0 0 125529 90529 20000 15000 0 523272 398032 81457 43783 15775 12620 1735 1420 30334 24267 3337 2730 51509 41207 5666 4636 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5225 5225 20995 14697 4199 2099 0 0 28949 23159 3106 2684 0 0 0 21723 21723 0 9776 9776 7561 3080 4481 PROJECT & STEWARDSHIP EXP 126638 126638 PROFESSIONAL FEES 60914 15229 28020 17665 PRINTING & POSTAGE 27550 18367 9183 TRAVEL, MEALS & ENTERTAINMENT 27187 21750 4078 1359 55520 44691 8465 2364 1138457 855989 174320 108148 461667 911924 489975 530480 0 0 0 0 0 0 15758 0 688351 62375 627556 625976 1370504 1149899 0 0 0 92800 113128 3058260 3331407 7743 32674 483290 471565 11477 491033 515716 X 2496016 2782018 71211 33673 2567227 2815691 3058260 3331407 152331 96133 X X false true X true false X 853897 1109235 1305488 1341434 1238946 5849000 0 0 853897 1109235 1305488 1341434 1238946 5849000 558243 5290757 16423 15316 14853 16498 34306 97396 0 0 5946396 0.88970 0.92440 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X X 55 12 1 true 20 93653 false 84440 false 148055 212334 18015 4438 373966 80195 2571 65580 291 148055 35970 42279 1946 80195 12461 23058 451 35970 11036 1475 50 12461 1.00000 false false false 615000 615000 73351 62375 10976 625976 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY 11477 11477 1382350 96133 96133 1286217 4571 4571 1290788 1133886 1133886 4571 4571 1138457 Part II, Line 9: Organization Reporting of conservation easements. THE BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST EXPENSES IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ANY COSTS OF ACQUISITION OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS REPRESENT RIGHTS TO RESTRICT THE USE OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES. BY ACCEPTING AN EASEMENT CONTRIBUTION, THE BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST COMMITS TO PROTECTING THE EASEMENT RESTRICTIONS IN PERPETUITY. THE EASEMENTS HAVE NO MARKET VALUE AS THEY TECHNICALLY CANNOT BE SOLD BUT REMAIN ATTACHED AS A DEEDED RESTRICTION TO THE PROPERTY AND ACCORDINGLY ARE NOT INCLUDED AS ASSETS OF THE ORGANIZATION SINCE THE UNDERLYING PROPERTY TO WHICH THE EASEMENT IS ATTACHED IS NOT OWNED BY THE ORGANIZATION. Part V, Line 4: Intended uses of the endowment fund. THE PURPOSE OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND IS TO SUSTAIN THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK INTO THE FUTURE ONCE THE FUND IS CAPITALIZED. X X X X X X X false MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS - SEE SCHED. O 35493 35493 17957 35493 35493 17957 17957 17536 X 6 122709 false true false Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE PROVIDED A COPY OF THE 990 PRIOR TO SUBMISSION Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c THE ORGANIZATION HAS A WRITTEN CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. THE PROCEDURE FOR ADDRESSING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IS PROVIDED IN THE POLICY AND ADHERED TO BY THE BOARD. INSIDERS SIGN THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15a EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY IS DETERMINED ANNUALLY BY THE FULL BOARD USING STATE AND REGIONAL COMPARISON DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS 990, 1023, GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD TO PERFORM THE OVERSIGHT FUNCTION FOR THE SELECTION AND THE WORK PERFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. PART III, Line 4a Program Service Area 1: Conservation ProjectsBitter Root Land Trust partnered with local families and the community to preserve 969 acres in 2023. This included three new conservation easements that protected a diverse suite of community and natural benefits. Program Service Area 2: Conservation Easement Monitoring, Stewardship, and Land Management/EnhancementThe Stewardship program monitored all of our conservation easements and fee land holdings in 2023. The Stewardship Program partnered with three local landowners to complete enhancement projects on their properties, including a riparian zone restoration. Program Service Area 3: Conservation EducationIn 2023, Bitter Root Land Trust continued building a lasting conservation legacy in the Bitterroot Valley by partnering with local families and our community to conserve important farm and ranchland, wildlife and fisheries habitat, scenic open space, and public recreational opportunities. These conservation victories protected over 969 acres from Stevensville to Victor and preserved a diverse suite of community and natural benefits, including prime agricultural soils and habitat for elk and mule deer. Bitter Root Land Trust staff secured and spent $1,044,696 from public and private sources to purchase conservation easements on these important properties. These payments were made directly to the landowners during closing and do not appear as revenue or expenses of BRLT on this 990. Further, BRLT continued to work closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Services Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to implement a $4.9 million grant designed to diversify agricultural conservation, support beginning farmers and ranchers, and increase the pace of farm and ranch conservation efforts in the Bitterroot. We closed the first project utilizing this program in 2023, partnering with the Mills family to preserve 71 acres. As we do every year, staff monitored all of our conservation easements in 2023 along with our fee title property. Bitter Root Land Trust again invested in conservation education programs to raise community awareness - among adults and students - of the importance of the Bitterroot Valleys water, wildlife, and working agricultural lands. The Annual Barn Dance which connects community members to conserved spaces was held at the conserved Flying E Ranch in the Burnt Fork neighborhood of Stevensville. The BRLT staff participated in farmers markets, a youth expo, and various other community events to further conservation educational opportunities for all ages.Program Service Area 1: Conservation Project Work Fishing and Recreational Access Projects:I.In 2023 Bitter Root Land Trust continued their partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the Bitterroot National Forest to complete recreation infrastructure projects at C. Ben White Memorial Fishing Access Site and Trailhead located near Conner, MT. Through this partnership, work began to install a pit toilet for use by recreators. Completed Conservation Projects: I.In February 2023, co-landowners and siblings Charlie and Sarah DeVoe in partnership with the Bitter Root Land Trust conserved their 820-acre property. A diverse landscape that showcases many favorite attributes of the Bitterroot Valley, the property features over 150 types of wildflowers, sagebrush shrublands and montane grasslands, forest, natural springs, the headwaters of two forks of Willoughby Creek, and riparian habitat all of which support local wildlife such as elk, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, owls, Brewers sparrow, as well as the occasional wolverine and badger. Funding for the Haywire Flats conservation easement was provided by the Agricultural Land Easement Program of the Farm Bill and the Heart of the Rockies Keep it Connected program.II. In August 2023, Bitter Root Land Trust completed the 71-acre Mills conservation easement with Barry and Paulie Mills in Stevensville, MT. The property is primarily used for alfalfa and grass hay production and irrigated pasture for cattle and horses. Wildlife known to use the property include mule and white-tailed deer, fox, sandhill crane, and turkeys. Funding for the Mills easement came from the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) through NRCS. This was the first project completed by BRLT with RCPP funding which allows additional flexibility to work with landowners with relatively smaller acreage.III.In November 2023, Bitter Root Land Trust worked with Luci Brieger and Steve Elliot to complete the donated Lifeline Produce conservation easement. This 77-acre family-owned and operated, diversified agricultural production is located within close vicinity of many completed and in-progress conservation easement projects, and serves as wildlife habitat for many native species. In addition to completing these critical conservation projects, Bitter Root Land Trust staff continued to work with local and federal partners to further agricultural conservation programs in the Bitterroot Valley that encourage high-value farmland conservation, agricultural diversification, and generational succession. Staff saw an increased interest from landowners looking to pursue conservation options and met with dozens of interested landowners. Those meetings yielded additional conservation projects that will proceed in 2023 and beyond. As a result of this partnership between Bitter Root Land Trust, local landowners, the NRCS, and the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program many of these landowners will choose to conserve their family lands. Program Service Area 2: Conservation Easement Monitoring, Stewardship, and Land Management/Enhancement I.Conservation Easement Monitoring and Enforcement: Bitter Root Land Trust remained committed to upholding Land Trust Commission Accreditation Standards in 2023. Bitter Root Land Trust staff monitored all of our existing conservation easements and our fee land holdings in 2023, ensuring that terms have not been violated and that conservation objectives remain intact. We further invested time in developing and maintaining relationships with existing easement holders to ensure that the conservation objectives agreed to by landowners and the land trust are being upheld. The Stewardship Program partnered with three local landowners on enhancement projects. These projects include native plantings to improve wildlife habitat and a riparian zone restoration. II.Land Management/Enhancement: Bitter Root Land Trust staff has continued to look for other opportunities for value-added land management grants to continue providing ongoing support to Bitter Root Land Trusts conservation easement landowners and their neighbors.Program Service Area 3: Conservation Education In 2023, Bitter Root Land Trust created meaningful, on-the-ground conservation education. The Annual Barn Dance returned to the Burnt Fork, connecting over 300 community members to conservation. The staff also participated in the local Hamilton Farmers Market and provided conservation education at community events across the Bitterroot Valley. As an added educational opportunity, the Land Trust partnered with the Hamilton Downtown Association to hang banners throughout downtown to help gain awareness for the work of the land trust to preserve the water, wildlife, and working lands of the Bitterroot Valley. Part X, Line 10(a) Of the $680,155 total in fixed assets, $615,000 consists of 160 Acres of land in ten parcels purchased by BRLT in 2022 for the Eastside Project. This land, which hosts a wide variety of wildlife and is prominently visible from the mid-valley, was likely to be converted to other uses prior to BRLT's acquisition. This asset is held directly for BRLT's programmatic conservation purposes.