Blue Mountain Land Trust protects 661 acres of farmland in the Walla Walla Valley
Dixie, WA - The Blue Mountain Land Trust (BMLT) recently completed a farmland preservation project to permanently protect a 661-acre wheat farm outside of Dixie, Washington. The Mud Creek Dixie Ranch conservation easement project increased the total protected land for BMLT to 23, 313 acres, preserving the future of farmland for agricultural communities in the region.
The foothills of the Blue Mountain region are a special place for local farms and ranches, defined by viable landscapes made possible by high-quality soils and significant annual rainfall. Mud Creek Dixie Ranch is located in one of the most economically productive dryland farming regions in the Walla Walla Valley. Owned by sisters Jeannie Eagleson and Lynne Bush, the duo wanted to protect the historic family farm for future generations and avoid breaking up the acreage into smaller parcels for development. Protecting the Mud Creek Dixie Ranch builds on an existing adjacent farm preservation project completed by BMLT in 2012, combining a total of 1,100 protected acres in a very important agricultural area.
The property contains soils of statewide significance including Palouse silt loam, a precious resource unique to our region. Farmland protection in the valley is critical because once the landscape is developed, it can never go back, threatening the livelihood of agricultural communities and access to open spaces for wildlife and plant species. By permanently preserving landscapes with designated soils of significance using conservation easements, we protect regional food production and habitat for future generations.
The farm also contains important wildlife habitat, including steep forested uplands, and riparian habitat along one mile of Mud Creek, a tributary of Dry Creek. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) identified several priority species common to the area, including Northwest white-tailed deer, golden eagle, and ring-necked pheasant.
The conservation easement was completed over the course of four years in collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Washington Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) as project funders. The property will continue to operate as a viable working farm, with the uplands and riparian areas managed for positive ecological outcomes.
“It was a wonderful experience working with the Eaglesons to preserve their family farm,” said BMLT Executive Director Amanda Martino. “This property is in one of the most scenic and viable farming areas in the Walla Walla Valley and we are honored to ensure this farm will stay productive agricultural land forever.”
