Clagstone Meadows

Fog looms over a serene lake while vibrant leaves flow into a golden meadow laced with pockets of wetlands and ponds. An entire forest of conifers flourishes throughout the area, embellishing this already majestic landscape.

A proposed development of 1,200 residential homes and two golf courses almost wiped out the cherished Clagstone Meadows in northern Idaho. It threatened wildlife habitats, a thriving logging business, and outdoor recreation for nearby residents and visitors.

Stimson Lumber Company, one of the oldest family-owned logging businesses in the United States, has managed timber in Idaho for several decades and has provided local families with well-paying jobs. The company worked with Trust for Public Land and state agencies to craft a conservation easement that preserves forestry and provides new public access to the area. In conjunction with many other partners, TPL raised $9.5 million to purchase the easement. Stimson Lumber will continue to own and manage the land.

The easement protects more than 14,400 acres in northern Idaho that includes a job-producing, working forest and recreation land used for hunting, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Wildlife, such as elk, black bears, moose, mountain lions, bobcats, and white-tailed deer, remain undisturbed due to the easement, which also protects a vital aquifer beneath the forest.

Stimson sold the conservation easement at significantly less than full market value—a conservation donation that will forever benefit the people of Idaho.

“We are delighted with this balance of active management and conservation,” says Chris Deming, senior project manager at TPL. “With Stimson’s help, we crafted a solution that keeps this land productive and opens more than 10,000 acres to hiking and hunting—supporting a vibrant and growing tourism economy and the quality of life cherished by northern Idaho residents.”