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The Friends of the Missouri River introduced the campaign to participants in two national gatherings in Bismarck that were commemorating the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Voyage of Discovery. The booth was held in August 2004 at the annual meeting of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. And, for the last 10 days in October 2004, more than 700 people stopped by to visit during the "Circle of Cultures" National Lewis and Clark Signature Event at the University of Mary campus. The booth, shown in this photo, featured a 10-minute video telling about the campaign, and featured artwork by Jerry Raedeke. Booth visitors registered to win one of the Raedeke prints.
Friends of the
Missouri River
Campaign FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local coalition establishes protection for
Missouri River land, BISMARCK, N.D. -- For the first time in North Dakota, a 113-acre parcel of agricultural land directly abutting the Missouri River and in the view shed of the historic Double Ditch Indian Village State Historic Site has been placed under a non-development easement through a federal land protection program. The project was made possible through a partnership between Bismarck landowners Michael Wachter and Patrick Wachter, a local coalition of conservation groups, and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Completed in March, it is the first project in North Dakota funded through the national NRCS Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. The easement contract is held by the American Foundation for Wildlife, a private non-profit conservation group headquartered in Bismarck. Keith Trego, executive director of the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust, which coordinated this project, hopes this is the first of several land protection projects along the Missouri River. A campaign to raise additional private donations to help fund future projects is being launched today. This Friends of the Missouri River Campaign is being coordinated through the North Dakota Conservation Foundation (NDCF), which was established in 2001 by the late Gary Raedeke, an ardent Missouri River advocate. The campaign’s goal is to raise $6 million for five land protection projects through 2008. “There are more and more landowners along the Missouri River who would like an alternative to the loss of agricultural land, open space, scenic, cultural and wildlife values that accompany real estate development,” says Trego, who is also the executive director of the NDCF. “Our approach is to provide private property owners land use and protection alternatives. We don’t want to push private landowners toward selling their development rights, but we would like to provide them an option to do so if they believe it is the best course of action for their private property.” The Wachters made a decision to work with Trego and other coalition members to place this land under a non-development easement instead of developing it, and made a significant financial donation toward the project. “Keeping these lands undeveloped provides all sorts of options for future use,” Mike Wachter says. “This includes public use where families might enjoy the history, cultural sites and fish and wildlife values the river corridor provides.” Jennifer Heglund, the assistant NRCS state conservationist for programs in North Dakota, says funds for this project were made available through the current Farm Bill. “This first project went smoothly and is a significant accomplishment for NRCS and the local coalition that made this possible,” she says. # More information about the Friends of the Missouri River campaign is available from Trego at 223-8501 or at its website at www.friendsofthemissouri.com |
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| Bismarck landowner Michael Wachter explains the reason why he put his land that abuts the Missouri River under a non-development easement at the May 27, 2004, news conference. |
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Keith Trego announces the Friends of the Missouri River campaign at a May 27, 2004, news conference along the Missouri River in Bismarck. |
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