TAKE A CULTURAL ECO TOUR
TAKE A CULTURAL ECO TOUR
A HALLMARK
As you enter the Heber Valley, the Northfields greet you with their pastoral charm. Framed by the silhouette of Mt. Timpanogos, here the Provo River flows; a cherished Blue Ribbon fishery, offering a haven for anglers and nature enthusiasts alike. But it's not just about the scenery. The Northfields are home to generational farms and ranches, steeped in tradition and resilience - a testament to our roots. The Northfields encapsulate the very essence, character, and distinctive allure that distinguishes the Heber Valley, resonating with a spirit symbolic of the American West, as timeless as the land itself.
KICKSTARTING CONSERVATION
The Northfields Protection Initiative: Phase One
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While Utah Open Lands is collaborating with several landowners in the Northfields, three properties (Giles, Gertsch, and Christian-Michel), have emerged as the first phase of the Northfields Protection Initiative. These landowners, recognizing the substantial profit to be made off of their land as Heber Valley’s population expands, are choosing to make an honorable sacrifice. They are pledging at least 25% of their property value- amounting to millions of dollars- to ensure the preservation of their properties upholds the character of their community.
The collective value of these three properties nears $23 million. Utah Open Lands has diligently fundraised to successfully secure over $15 million in county, state, and federal funding. We have a final $975,000 to raise, less than 5% of the total value. We need your help to see the first phase of the Northfields Protection Initiative through to the end. The completion of this first phase is a signal to other landowners in the area that conservation is a viable option for their properties. Additionally, it demonstrates to major funding entities the community’s support for this initiative, creating additional funding avenues totaling up to $20 million.
WHY NOW
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Utah Open Lands has been seeking conservation options for the Northfields for over twenty five years. We find ourselves at a unique moment in time, with federal funding uniquely available for working lands—an opportunity that may soon disappear due to shifting political landscapes. One such funding source is the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service under the United States Department of Agriculture. We are asking community members, businesses, and foundations to kickstart a larger preservation vision for the Heber Valley. Utah Open Lands aims to triple private donor contributions by leveraging donations to secure matching government grants. Your support is critical to safeguarding the Northfields.
Learn more about the designation of the Northfields as a Grasslands of Special Significance.
Wetlands & Wet Meadows within the Northfields
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The Northfields are a cherished freshwater wetland habitat in an otherwise arid landscape. Wetlands act as "carbon sinks", storing excess carbon dioxide and regulating climate, water supplies and biodiversity. Human development of these ecosystems can release hundreds of years worth of stored methane into the atmosphere, compounding the region's greenhouse effect. Locally, the commercialization of the Northfields could mean longer, hotter droughts, less productive agriculture, and a smaller, faster-melting snowpack (and less local tourism, particularly in the ski industry).
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Program
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The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a government-community partnership approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. The RCPP program receives applications from land trusts and conservation entities across the nation, who are working to protect critical working lands. Utah Open Lands’ has submitted an application to receive $20 million in additional funding for projects within the Northfields and Heber Valley. The proposal is titled “Northfields Protection Initiative; Heritage, Habitat, and H2O in the Heber Valley.” If this RCPP proposal is selected for funding, the impact on landscapes in the Northfields and Heber Valley is tremendous.
Learn more about the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS
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WE NEED YOUR HELP
The whole of what the Northfields represents to the community is larger than the sum of its individual properties. We are at a moment in time where we stand to lose the essence of what makes Wasatch County, its cities, and its towns unique. We must come together to protect this landscape. Please show your support for our initiative today.
SPREAD THE WORD
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Tell your friends! There is power in the collective. Click the links here to download the following printable resources. Information Sheet and
Letter from our Executive Director
We are so close to meeting our immediate fundraising needs; we are just 5% short of our goal. Please help us close the funding gap for the first phase of the Northfields Protection Initiative. Your dollars go directly towards the protection of properties in the Northfields.
Do you think others in your immediate community would want to support this initiative? Host an educational event or house party to raise awareness and funding for this initiative by contacting UOL’s Director of Community Engagement, Alli Eroh, at alli.eroh@utahopenlands.org or 801-463-6156.
Utah Open Lands would like to thank Heber City photographer Johnny Adolphson for giving permission to share his portraits of the Northfields and Heber Valley on our campaign site. His work eloquently captures the spirit and beauty of the Northfields and underscores the importance of their preservation.
Our initiative would be impossible without the knowledge, passion, and talents of those local to the places we seek to protect. Find more of Johnny’s work here.