A future we shape together.
Blue Mountain Land Trust celebrates a quarter of a century of bringing communities together to protect working farms, ranches, and natural lands of the region. 25 years is a major milestone, an important opportunity to appreciate the hard work and dedication that is the legacy of collective community action. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling nostalgic when reflecting on so many memories, from the monumental to the tiny (but mighty).
On my first day at BMLT, I toured three potential conservation projects in the rugged, rural landscapes of Wheeler and Grant counties in Eastern Oregon. Riding in a side-by-side with landowners up a steep butte, I caught my first glimpse of the area from a high-elevation view. It was jaw-dropping: the mountains, ridgelines, and stunning rock formations stretched on forever on that clear summer day. In that moment, I grasped the vast scale of the Blue Mountain region and the deep connections between its working lands, grasslands, rivers, and forests. I realized the potential impact and opportunities BMLT could have to collaboratively protect the land and waters of this special country.
Over the past 25 years, our community’s love of these incredible places has shaped our ethos, scaled the size of our impact, guided the evolution of our thinking, and brought new voices and perspectives to BMLT’s programs and projects.
In 2024, our team grew to its largest ever, with the exciting addition of new positions and a revised program structure to better care for the more than 23,300 acres we now steward. Our team is collaborating with more partners than ever before to dive deeper into the critical resources on our protected properties and develop management strategies to help those ecosystems thrive. We are working on some of the most complex (and impactful) land and water acquisitions in our history, driving towards our goal to protect another 25,000 acres in the next 10 years.
With the dedication of volunteers and partners, we cared for major trails in the Umatilla and Malheur National Forests and created more opportunities for visitors at Horseshoe Prairie to stay warm and connect with each other in a new warming hut. Children learned about the wonders of pollinators and biodiversity at Farm Kids. We continue to lean into land justice work, following our commitment to learn about historical injustice, uplift voices, and support more equitable access to the outdoors. After pausing a few programs to evaluate, reimagine, and redesign, we’re excitedly planning for a 2025 relaunch which will create new opportunities to connect our communities with these resources and protected places.
When I reflect on BMLT’s 25 years, I think of all the people — staff, board, volunteers, partners, landowners, and community members — who’ve dedicated themselves to this work and each other. Each person’s connection to these lands and waters adds to our shared vision: a future where these places thrive for generations to come. We’re shaping that future together, building on past chapters and embracing new ones with a team as diverse and resilient as the landscapes we protect.
We could not have accomplished all that we have without you. Thank you for being an important part of shaping a positive future together.
— Amanda Martino,
Executive Director
Read the 2024 Impact Report Below