Collaboration of Course!

Part 2: Bridging Local and National: PLT and The Wilderness Land Trust

Part 2 of 3 in the Annie Creek Conservation Story

In September 2025, a 94-acre property along Annie Creek in the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness officially completed its journey back to the wild, but the origins of that conservation journey started years earlier.

The process of conserving land is not simple, especially when the land in question lies within the boundaries of a designated wilderness area. These rare parcels of private property, known as inholdings, are missing puzzle pieces in a contiguous wilderness. Turning those private lands into permanently protected wilderness takes patience, collaboration, and expertise that requires coordination on local and national levels.

Annie Creek Map

 

Annie Creek lies on the edge of the rugged Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness, the largest contiguous wilderness in the lower 48 states. Though remote, this 94-acre parcel of private land held incredible ecological value along with wild beauty.

 

One of the highest ecological values of this property is the effect it has on water quality. Annie creek flows through the property and enters upper Monumental creek just a ¼ mile below the property, a waterway home to Chinook Salmon, Steelhead and Bull Trout, which are all threatened or endangered in Idaho. The Annie Creek property was the only private inholding upstream of Roosevelt Lake, meaning left as it is, Annie creek will continue to provide cool clean water to flow downstream.

But as private property, it was vulnerable to development or sale, meaning any future development could affect water quality and quantity of the Monumental Creek drainage.

Taking on the Annie Creek project was a huge lift for PLT and help was needed….

That’s where The Wilderness Land Trust (WLT) came in. For more than 30 years, WLT has worked across the country to acquire private inholdings within wilderness areas and transfer them to public ownership.

PLT and WLT brought their strengths together: PLT contributed deep local knowledge, relationships, and on-the-ground understanding of Idaho’s landscapes, while WLT handled the intricate federal coordination and legal steps needed to make the transfer possible.

It was a partnership rooted in shared purpose. As Craig Utter, Executive Director of PLT, reflects,

“When local and national partners unite around a shared goal, we can achieve things
that neither could do alone. Annie Creek is proof of that.”

Brad Borst, President of WLT, echoes this sentiment:

“Thanks to our partnerships with the Payette Land Trust and the Leuthold Foundation, this special place will be protected for future generations to enjoy in one of America’s most iconic wilderness areas.”

Next in the series: Part 3: Completing the Promise: The Federal Partnership that Made it Official

Previous: Part 1: It Starts with a Passion: The Funder’s Vision