Open space remains incredibly important to Cache Valley. It is one of the main reasons we choose to live here. We love the people, the opportunities, the landscapes, and the agricultural products that open space produces.
Because of open lands’ importance, we write in support of Cache County Proposition 1.
Over the last few decades, Utah has been one of the fastest growing states. As our population increased, Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Weber, Washington, and Cache Counties lost almost 100,000 acres of their open lands over the last 20 years. Almost all of these losses have come from farms and ranches being converted into urban uses. These changes will have profound impacts on the state’s air quality, water quality, habitat for wildlife, and overall quality of life.
Through Cache County’s Proposition 1, we have an opportunity to keep the character of what makes living here so fantastic. This ballot initiative will provide funding for Cache County to enter into agreements with willing landowners in exchange for fair market value to preserve undeveloped lands. Significantly, the funds can be used to acquire conservation easements on existing agricultural lands to ensure they can remain in agricultural production.
This is a worthy goal around which all of us should rally. Once they are gone, open lands and the opportunities they afford are almost impossible to reclaim.
Please join us in supporting Proposition 1 to ensure that our communities can grow while preserving Cache Valley’s open and rural feel.
Brian Steed
Craig Buttars
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