Project Selection Criteria

Project Description
Name of Landowner(s): Physical Address/ Name of the Property:

Appendix 8B.1

Describe the project, including how it meets the Land Trusts mission and is an example of the Land Trusts organizational values.

Describe how the project constitutes significant public benefit (see Practice 8D).

What is the objective of this project?

Is the project within the Land Trusts service area? Estimated cost of the project: IRS Qualifications (in general, WRLT involvement in a project requires that the project meet two
IRS conservation purposes. If the conservation purpose and public benefit is very high, WRLT may choose to be involved if only one IRS conservation purpose is met.) Relatively natural habitat Public recreation or education Scenic open space (farm or forest land) Open space pursuant to government policies Historically important features Comments: Yes No Uncertain N/A

Conservation Purposes
Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Scenic Values
Contains or protects threatened, endangered, or at-risk species of plants and/or wildlife Protects food, shelter, migration, and rearing needs of wildlife Provides habitat connectivity Helps create and/or buffer a larger contiguous piece of protected land, wildlife habitat, or sensitive area Project includes restoration opportunities, if degraded Land protection contributes to water quality, air quality, or natural flood control Contains relatively undisturbed wildlife habitat, plant communities, or natural features Protects land for scenic views from roadways, waterways, or recreation areas Protects land for agricultural resources, especially family farms and local food production Comments:

Signature ____________________________________________

Date _______

Conservation Values cont.

Social/Community Values
Provides public access to recreation or educational areas Provides educational or scientific research opportunities Provides opportunities for partnerships to be created with other organizations Protects public health and safety Provides fair opportunities for all socioeconomic levels Provides open space as a community benefit Contains historic and/or archaeological values Maintains and increases social and cultural connections within the community Comments:

Yes

No

Uncertain

N/A

Development on Property
Does not infringe on wildlife habitat and movement Does not fragment the landscape Development pattern is consistent with bordering land uses and character Does not create pockets of open space that are inaccessible to people and wildlife Does not promote leapfrog development patterns Does not promote sprawl Does not encroach on sensitive resources Property is close to public services and utilities Promotes sustainable transportation Includes affordable housing, if development will occur Is a model for sustainable development Comments:

Project Feasibility, Hazards, and Risks (In general, identification of one or more risks may preclude the Land Trust from involvement in
a project even if the conservation purposes are very high.) WRLT has stewardship capacity to steward the easement/property Donor is willing to make a stewardship endowment contribution Land is of sufficient size to protect natural resources or public benefit values Surrounding land uses or potential uses will not threaten the conservation values of the property Any split estate mineral rights, encumbrances, or extraction leases have been realized and cleared Water rights are critical to maintaining conservation purposes of property There are no title defects, boundary disputes, or fractured ownership issues Property has clear boundaries and access for monitoring Reserved rights and prohibited uses are able to be monitored and enforced Reserved rights do not diminish conservation values Hazardous materials or dumping on the property Public use problems access, vandalism, dumping Noxious weeds do not threaten relatively natural habitat or other conservation values Legal, ethical, or public issues associated with accepting the project Comments:

Any other concerns or comments:

Staff Report to the Board (to include a copy of this criteria)

Date of Presentation to Board: If denied, reason for:

Signature ____________________________________________

Date _______