“The land belongs to the future.” Willa Cather
The Narrow River Land Trust is dedicated to preserving as much land in the watershed as possible, for our generation and all those to follow. NRLT now owns or otherwise protects over 660 acres of land inside and abutting the watershed. Our work has preserved vistas, shorelines, fields, and sensitive marshland.
We accomplish our work in two basic ways: We take title to land either through purchase or gift; and we hold conservation easements on land to keep the land in a protected state.
Fee property is land that NRLT owns. Most of our properties are of this type. Owners of land can reap large tax benefits by either donating their land, or by selling the land to NRLT. Because NRLT is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the donated value generates a charitable tax deduction which can be applied against current income, and it can often be carried forward for years until the full value is deducted.
NRLT has also purchased several properties. Our purchases are often made possible by grants or government programs dedicated to preserving open space.
Conservation easements allow owners of land to donate or sell the right to control some or all of their property. As with donations of fee properties, the owner receives a tax benefit for the change in value of the property. The owner still has title to their property, may continue to use it, and may retain the right to improve structures or portions of the property. But the easement will restrict or preclude alteration or development of the remaining portions of the property. It is a win-win-win situation: The owner keeps the property and gets the tax credit; the public benefits from the preservation of the property; and NRLT is able to ensure the easement is followed.
How You Can Help. Though we currently protect thirty properties, there is still work to be done. Development pressure has never been higher, we are interested in obtaining property and easements anywhere in the watershed.
Contact the Narrow River Land Trust to see if a donation of your property, or a conservation easement on your property, is good fit for your family or estate plan. We will work closely with you to guide you through the process and ensure your values are represented in any conservation easement plan. You will gain the immediate benefit of the tax deduction, and NRLT will preserve the property for future generations.