Katy Land Trust to preserve landscape near Katy Trail

The Katy Land Trust, a new program to preserve lands near the Katy Trail was announced today.

Today the Ozark Regional Land Trust announced the creation of a new project designed to protect one of Missouri’s most treasured landscapes.  

The Katy Land Trust, a program of the Ozark Regional Land Trust, will focus on preserving lands near the Katy Trail.  Through private, voluntary land preservation, the Katy Land Trust will help conserve the natural, scenic, and agricultural qualities of lands where the Katy Trail, the Missouri River, and Highway 94 meet.

"This is an innovative new project to help protect the forests, fields, and natural areas along the Missouri River,” said Ted Heisel, Executive Director of ORLT.  “The bluffs along the Missouri are a priority for us, but there are all kinds of reasons to preserve land along this corridor.”

The Katy Land Trust was formed with the support of two retired former Edward Jones partners who were inspired by Edward “Ted” Jones’ example.  Twenty years ago, Ted Jones and his wife Pat donated the funds needed for the State of Missouri to create the Katy Trail the longest rails-to-trails project in the country.  KLT’s founders, as Ted’s friends and former partners, wanted to commemorate the Katy Trail’s 20^th anniversary while protecting the landscape around it.

“The Katy Trail corridor from St. Charles to Rocheport is still relatively unspoiled by development,” Heisel said recently.  “We see an opportunity to give landowners an option for their property and to promote discussion about the value of preserving land for agricultural and forestry purposes.  Along Highway 94, Missouri has beautiful and diverse landscapes that need to be preserved for our children and grandchildren.”

Land trusts commonly preserve land with a legal agreement known as a conservation easement.  When private landowners protect their land with a conservation easement, they retain ownership of the land while permanently agreeing not to develop or otherwise alter the property.  Conservation easements are flexible, allowing for productive farming, forestry operations and other activities to be conducted on the preserved property.  The land trust’s role is to ensure that the terms of the conservation agreement are followed.  The development value that the landowner gives up can often result in substantial charitable income tax deductions. 

For more information contact:  Mark Patrick, Katy Land Trust Program Coordinator

Phone: 314-920-0038     Email: info@katylandtrust.org   Web:  www.katylandtrust.org