January 20, 2000

Nature Conservancy to preserve historic ranch

MALTA, Mont. (AP) -- The Nature Conservancy has struck a deal to preserve the historic 60,000-acre Matador Ranch in north-central Montana, described as one of the last and largest mixed-grass prairie landscapes in North America.

The deal includes a Nature Conservancy purchase of 14,400 acres and purchase of 16,600 acres by Roundup cattle rancher Ned Tranel. The remainder of the ranch is government land under lease.

The arrangement pleases both conservationists and ranchers, because livestock will remain on the 114-year-old ranch and protection is provided for some 200 plant species flourishing there.

Under terms of the deal, the Conservancy and Tranel will work together to maintain cattle production on the ranch and simultaneously keep vegetation alive and well.

The Matador Ranch, which began in 1886 as the Circle C, is one of the largest ranches in agriculturally rich Phillips County. It later became part of the Matador holdings that stretched from Texas to Saskatchewan.

In the complex agreement signed last week, the Conservancy bought the 31,000 acres of deeded land and 1,000 head of cattle for an undisclosed price from Matador partners Fred Itcaina and John Sallaberry, who are retiring.

After attaching a perpetual conservation easement that forbids development and subdivision, the Conservancy immediately sold 16,600 acres to Tranel, who will graze cattle on his portion and lease grazing rights on the Conservancy's portion.

Tranel also will maintain the Matador's leases on the adjacent 29,000 acres of state and Bureau of Land Management land.

The Nature Conservancy had wanted the property since it was put up for sale in the summer of 1998, but it couldn't afford to buy all 31,000 acres. Partnering with Tranel, whose family runs the Twin Butte Ranch near Roundup, and splitting the cost enabled both parties to expand.

Some locals are leery of the transfer to the Nature Conservancy, an international wildlife and plant protection group with chapters in all 50 states and abroad.

"We haven't dealt with the Nature Conservancy before. We don't know what they stand for," said Terry Lodmell, a state Revenue Department employee who maintains land records for Phillips County. "People are a little suspect, a little cautious of outside influences going on in our region."

But the Conservancy is trying to make a good impression. Along with continuing livestock production on the ranch, the organization will allow hunting access and pay property taxes. The Matador's tax bill was $27,982 in 1999 and the land will continue to be assessed at agricultural rates.

"We want to make sure that we work in a way that respects the values and traditions and needs of the community," said Jamie Williams, state director of the Nature Conservancy. "We recognize that the Matador Ranch is a significant piece of their heritage and their economy."

The purchase marks the largest land acquisition by the Montana chapter of the Conservancy and nearly doubles its Montana holdings to 32,000 acres. The Matador becomes the group's 10th preserve and increases its tally of protected lands -- most of which are not owned by the Conservancy but are protected by its conservation easements -- to some 420,000 acres.

While cattlemen and conservationists often conflict, both parties in the Matador Ranch deal said it will work on the Montana plains because grazing herds are part of its natural heritage -- first with bison and elk and now with cattle.

Brian Martin, Great Plains project manager for Conservancy, estimated at least 70 percent of the natural grasslands have disappeared in the region with the advent of crop production, spread of exotic plant species and drainage and alteration of wetlands.

"Montana holds one of the best chances to conserve large grasslands and many of its plants and animals," Martin said. "If it's done well, there's really no conflict with conservation and livestock grazing in the Great Plains.