Together, we’re making a big impact.
The Blue Mountain region is like no other. From rolling farm fields to flowing rivers and sagebrush seas, these landscapes hold what we value most: clean water, open spaces, vital habitat, healthy soils, and livelihoods for agricultural communities. Protecting these places through local conservation efforts is climate change work. It is up to our communities to safeguard our water resources, farmland, fish and wildlife habitat, and migratory corridors essential for species survival. By supporting our work, you’re supporting a more climate-resilient future.
This past year was full of change, review, and growth at Blue Mountain Land Trust (BMLT). With community and partner support, we made great strides. We hope you enjoy taking a look at these highlights and more from our work together over the past year. Read more from Executive Director Amanda Martino >>
Critical shifts, collective action.
“As I step into a new role as the Executive Director, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come in our 20+ years as an organization to protect what matters most.” - Amanda Martino, BMLT Executive Director
Climate Action Starts at home.
Why is protecting landscapes for fish, wildlife, and communities important to you?
Conservation & Farmland Protection Wins
Sustaining the Sagebrush Sea
For the Bennett Family, conservation goes hand in hand. Earlier this year, BMLT completed a conservation easement in partnership with the Bennett family to permanently protect one of the greatest ranches in Eastern Oregon.
Restoring a River
Since 2014, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) have restored a section of the North Fork Touchet River in Dayton, WA. As part of the CTUIR River Vision to protect First Foods and fish species, the project greatly improved the channel, riparian, and floodplain conditions. BMLT worked with the Empey family and CTUIR to place a conservation easement to protect this stretch of river permanently. Due to the river restoration work, flooding did not occur on the farm this year — a strong indication of a successful project plan.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ISAAC BAIK
Lands & Waters Stewardship
Strengthening climate resilience.
When BMLT completes a conservation easement, we are responsible for regularly monitoring and reporting on the properties to ensure responsible stewardship, leading to greater conservation benefits for the environment and community. This ongoing land stewardship is what we mean when we say, “We protect the land you love. Forever.”
A hub for biodiversity
Last year, BMLT purchased our first property, Phipps Meadow, an ecologically diverse 278-acre property composed of wetland meadow, pine forest, sagebrush steppe, and 1.58 miles of the Middle Fork John Day River. Over 200+ species call this special place home.
“I’ve enjoyed working with landowners and seeing how BMLT connects people from different groups to agree on common goals like conservation.”
— Leander Swan, Whitman Student & Stewardship Intern
Partnerships & DEIJ
An equitable future.
BMLT joined the cohort of 65 conservation organizations in the Oregon Land Justice Project, a commitment to partner with Indigenous people in their effort to reclaim and reconnect to their traditional landscapes and first foods.
Education
The future starts today.
When we create a relationship with a place, we start to care about it. Care turns into love, and love turns into action to ensure the longevity and abundance of gifts it has to offer. At BMLT, our focus is more than just preserving land. It is about creating community connections, relationships, and experiences with the natural world.
“I believe that environmental education, especially in the youth, is a super important part of changing our attitudes for the environment and ultimately creating change.”
— Allyson Kim, Whitman Student & Farm Kids Intern
Trail Stewardship & Recreation
Giving back to places you love.
The Blue Mountains are home to hundreds of miles of trail. The type with views for days, wildflowers galore, and a surplus of solitude. We know a day on the trail provides moments of growth and well-being. And our BMLT Blues Crew volunteers want to make sure these experiences are available for everyone.
“The Blues Crew is a connected group of individuals bringing their skills and passion to create and rebuild recreational trails in our region.”
— Greg Brown, BMLT Blues Crew Founder
Community is everything
When you support the Blue Mountain Land Trust, you are a part of the conservation of precious farms, ranches, and natural habitats in the Blue Mountain region, from Dayton, WA to John Day, OR. That’s a service area the size of West Virginia. Since 1999, over 22,600 acres in the Blue Mountain region have been protected in perpetuity from development, subdivision, and extraction of natural resources. This could not have happened without you and the community of BMLT supporters that you are a part of.
Keeping the Blue Mountain region healthy, sustainable, and beautiful is a community effort. BMLT’s supporters are at the heart of our work, and we’re committed to maintaining the highest level of accountability. We are grateful for our relationships with individuals, businesses, foundations, colleges, and organizations that support our mission to drive positive impact in the region. Contact us if you are interested in becoming part of our community of supporters that help drive our work forward for the people and places we call home.
Thank you to our partners
Business Sponsors
Mongata Winery • Weston Mountain Lodge • Woodward Canyon • The Foundry Vineyards • The Walls Vineyard • Dusted Valley • Mainstem Malt • Quirk Brewing • Brasserie Four • The Refinery • Walla Walla General Store • McKinney Farm • Adventure Fit • Colville Street Patisserie • Graze • Allegro Cyclery • Outside Walla Walla • Bright’s Candies • Whitman College Outdoor Program • Digital Heroes • Inland Octopus • Sara Todorovich-Ballas: Pro Poser Photo
Government & Tribal
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs • Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation • U.S. Forest Service • Bonneville Power Administration • Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service • Washington Recreation and Conservation Office • John Day Basin Partnership
Foundations
Cape Flattery Foundation • Bella Vista Foundation • Port of Walla Walla • No Child Left Inside • Land Trust Alliance
Top image by Matt Franklin