Dry Lakes Ranch

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Credit: TPL Archives

Dry Lakes Ranch in Iron County has hardly changed since it was first established in the 1890s. The original homesteader's family continues to run a cattle and sheep ranch, using sustainable management practices to control erosion, restore vegetation, and maintain livestock at levels suitable for healthy habitat. The land boasts aspen and Douglas fir forests, meadows, creeks, and wetlands—rich habitat for a variety of birds and other wildlife. The ranch is also adjacent to the Cedar Breaks National Scenic Byway that runs through Cedar Breaks National Monument and Dixie National Forest.

In October 2011, The Trust for Public Land and its partners permanently protected 1,855 acres of the ranch. TPL worked with the owners to sell the land's development rights to the Utah Department of Natural Resources, ensuring that current and future generations of the family may continue to work the ranch while protecting the beauty of the surrounding area.